JP2016105540A - Color variable chart - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a color variable chart capable of easily selecting a color for color adjustment in a color variable chart. A color variable chart 60 includes a specific color patch SC arranged at the center and a peripheral color patch GC arranged around the specific color patch SC. The surrounding color patch GC includes a C value fixing region 71, a Y value fixing region 72, and an M value fixing region 73 that are divided into a plurality of portions around the specific color patch SC in the circumferential direction. Each of the fixed areas 71 to 73 fixes one or two color component values of the three color component values included in the specific color patch SC, and out of the three color component values in a direction away from the specific color patch SC. A color patch in which color component values other than the fixed color component value are changed. [Selection] Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a color variable chart used when adjusting the color of an image printed on a medium.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a color adjusting device that adjusts the color of an image at the time of printing is known so as to correct a color difference between image data displayed on a display and an image printed on a medium by a printing device. In this type of color adjustment apparatus, the color adjustment apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 adjusts the color of image data as follows. That is, when an area that requires color adjustment is selected as the color adjustment area in the image data, the color adjustment apparatus creates a color variable chart in which a plurality of colors are arranged around the color of the color adjustment area. Next, when one color is selected as a color adjustment color from the color variable chart, the color adjustment device makes the color of the color adjustment area in the image data become a desired color based on the selected color. It is adjusted to.

Here, in the color variable chart of Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 10, the shape of the arrangement area of a plurality of color patches arranged around the color patch (specific color patch) of the color of the selected area is six. It is configured to have a square shape. In the plurality of color patches, an increase / decrease value of the CMY value with respect to the CMY value indicating the color component value of the specific color patch is shown. As shown in FIG. 10, the color variable chart is divided into six regions by three broken lines: a broken line indicating an increasing / decreasing tendency of the C value, a broken line indicating an increasing / decreasing tendency of the M value, and a broken line indicating an increasing / decreasing tendency of the Y value. ing. Note that one of the CMY values of the color patches on each broken line is increased or decreased. In the increasing / decreasing tendency in each broken line, the color component value increases from the specific color patch toward one end of the broken line, and the color component value decreases from the specific color patch toward the other end of the broken line.

JP 2004-282156 A

Incidentally, in the color variable chart shown in FIG. 10, the colors of adjacent color patches may not be approximate colors. For this reason, when searching for a color for color adjustment using the color variable chart, it is difficult to search for the color.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a color variable chart that can easily select a color for color adjustment in the color variable chart.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A color variable chart that solves the above-described problem is a color variable chart that includes a specific color patch that is a color patch arranged in the center and a peripheral color patch that is arranged around the specific color patch, and the peripheral color The patch has a plurality of patch areas divided in a circumferential direction around the specific color patch, and at least one of the plurality of patch areas includes three color components included in the specific color patch One or two color component values of the values are fixed, and a color patch in which a color component value other than the fixed color component value of the three color component values is changed is provided.

According to the above configuration, the colors of the color patches in the patch area are colors that are close to each other. For this reason, when the color of the patch area is close to the desired color, it is easy to search for the desired color in the patch area. Therefore, it is possible to easily select a color for color adjustment in the color variable chart.

In the color variable chart, the patch region has an inner peripheral region made of color patches arranged around the specific color patch and an outer peripheral region made of color patches arranged outside the inner peripheral region. One of the inner peripheral area and the outer peripheral area does not decrease with respect to the color component value of the specific color patch, but increases by increasing one or two of the three color component values. It is preferable that the other of the inner peripheral region and the outer peripheral region is a reduced region in which one or two of the three color component values are reduced.

According to the above configuration, the inner peripheral region forms one of the increasing region and the decreasing region, and the outer peripheral region forms the other of the increasing region and the decreasing region, so that the adjacent color patches in the inner peripheral region and the outer peripheral region are adjacent to each other. The colors are more similar to each other. In addition, since the increase region or the decrease region is formed so as to surround the specific color patch, color patches of colors that are approximate to surround the specific color patch are arranged. Therefore, it becomes easier to search for a desired color by sequentially viewing the color patches adjacent in the circumferential direction of the specific color patch.

In the color variable chart, the three color component values are a first color component value, a second color component value,
And a patch area divided into a plurality of colors, wherein the first color component value is fixed and at least one of the second color component value and the third color component value is changed. A first patch area composed of patches; a second patch area composed of color patches in which the second color component value is fixed and at least one of the first color component value and the third color component value is changed;
It is preferable that the third color component value is fixed and includes a third patch region including a color patch in which at least one of the first color component value and the second color component value is changed.

In the color variable chart, the three color component values are red (R), green (G), and blue (B).
It is preferable that
In the color variable chart, the three color component values are cyan (C) and magenta (M).
Yellow (Y) is preferable.

In the color variable chart, it is preferable that the color of the specific color patch is a color selected for color adjustment.
According to the above configuration, since the color selected for color adjustment is arranged at the center of the color variable chart, it is easy to find a desired color in the color variable chart.

1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows an example of image data. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a color adjustment procedure in the color adjustment method according to the embodiment. Schematic diagram of the printer property screen. Schematic diagram of the specified color adjustment tool screen. The figure which shows a part of color sample as an example. The figure which shows an example of a color variable chart. The figure which shows the patch area | region of the color variable chart of FIG. The figure which shows the color variable chart of a modification. The figure which shows the conventional color variable chart.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a color adjustment method executed in a printing system for printing an image on a medium will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 10 is an example of a medium based on a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 11 that functions as a control unit, and a print job and image data transmitted from the PC 11. And a printer 30 for printing an image on the roll paper P. The printing system 10 also sets color component values, which are gradation values of the image data, so that the color of the image data displayed on the display 12 of the PC 11 matches the color of the image that the printer 30 prints on the roll paper P. It is possible to make adjustments, and after adjusting the color component values, the printer 30 can print an image on the roll paper P.

As shown in FIG. 2, image data G of an image printed on the roll paper P by the printer 30.
Has a designated area SR printed in a designated color such as a corporate color (hereinafter referred to as “designated color”) in the image area. That is, the image data G is included in the image area.
In this embodiment, a designated area S printed with a corporate color “ABC”, which is one of the plurality of areas, is provided.
R is a color adjustment area in which color adjustment is performed during printing.

The printer 30 is an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto the roll paper P, and a liquid ejecting head (hereinafter referred to as “head”) in a direction that intersects the transport direction of the roll paper P. This is a so-called serial printer that performs printing by moving 32. The printer 30 includes a print control unit 31, a head 32, a carriage mechanism 33, a transport unit 34, and the like.

The head 32 uses the ink of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) to apply the ink to the roll paper P so that the ink amount corresponds to the color component value of the image data. Discharge. The carriage mechanism 33 includes a carriage (not shown) on which the head 32 is mounted, and moves the head 32 together with the carriage in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. Transport unit 34
Is composed of a plurality of rollers (not shown), and the roll paper P is transported in the transport direction by these rollers, and the roll paper P is transported to a support base (not shown) opposed to the head 32. Since the print control unit 31 prints an image on the roll paper P based on a print job including image data,
The operations of the head 32, the carriage mechanism 33, and the transport unit 34 are controlled.

The PC 11 includes a display 12, a keyboard 13, a mouse 14, a control device 15, and the like.
The control device 15 includes a printer driver 20 that instructs the printer 30 to perform printing. The printer driver 20 includes an input IF (interface) 16 to which a keyboard 13 and a mouse 14 are connected, and an application 1 that can create image data including color information.
7 and a storage unit 18 in which an operation program of the printer driver 20 and the like are stored are connected via a system bus (not shown). The printer driver 20 has an input IF 16
Then, a print job for instructing the printer 30 to print based on the input information of the application 17 and the storage unit 18 is created.

The application 17 converts the image data captured by the PC 11 into the printer driver 2
Output to 0.
The storage unit 18 includes a hard disk, a flash memory, and the like, and stores a color profile, a color sample generation table, a chart generation table, and the like. The color profile is an information table that defines the correspondence between the CMYK data before color conversion and the CMYK data after color conversion for a plurality of reference points, and the image data of the preview image displayed on the display 12 and the printer 30 Correct the color difference from the printed image. The color sample generation table is an information table for generating a color sample 50 shown in FIG. 6, for example. The chart generation table is an information table that generates, for example, the color variable chart 60 shown in FIG.

The printer driver 20 includes an overall color adjustment unit 21, a designated color adjustment unit 23, a communication unit 27, and the like. In addition to creating a print job, the printer driver 20 changes the color of the image data input from the application 17 based on the operation information of the keyboard 13 and the mouse 14 by the input IF 16 and the input information of the storage unit 18.

The overall color adjustment unit 21 converts the RGB value image data G (see FIG. 2) displayed on the display 12 into CMYK values that can be printed on the printer 30 based on the color profile read from the storage unit 18. A conversion unit 22 is provided.

For example, the designated color adjusting unit 23 adjusts only the color of the designated area SR printed in the designated color such as the corporate color in the image data G to a color desired by the user. In order to reduce the color difference between the print color “ABC” that is the designated area SR and the corporate color that is the designated color in the image data G of FIG. 2, the designated color adjustment unit 23 uses the color of the designated area SR in the image data G. Is converted to a color that matches (or approximates) the specified color.

The designated color adjusting unit 23 selects a color that is approximately approximate to the color of the designated region SR in the image data G from the plurality of colors in the color sample 50 read from the storage unit 18 as a first color.
The color selection unit 24 is provided. The designated color adjustment unit 23 also has a color variable chart 60 in which a plurality of colors are arranged around the first color selected by the first color selection unit 24 based on the chart generation table read from the storage unit 18. And a second color selection unit 25 that selects a second color from the color variable chart 60 as a color used for color adjustment of the designated region SR. Furthermore, the designated color adjusting unit 23 converts the color of the designated region SR in the image data G into the second color selected by the second color selecting unit 25 (a color that matches or approximates the designated color). A designated color conversion unit 26 as a unit is provided.

Next, a color adjustment method by the printing system 10, particularly a designated color adjustment method for adjusting only a specific color of the image data G, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, the constituent elements of the printing system 10 denoted by reference numerals indicate the constituent elements of the printing system 10 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the designated color adjustment method includes a first color selection step (steps S1 and S2), a color variable chart generation step (step S3), a printing step (step S4), and a second color selection step ( 2 is converted into a color that matches or approximates the specified color through a plurality of steps in the order of steps S5 and S6) and the color conversion step (step S7). A specific procedure will be described below.

First, the property screen 40 of the printer 30 shown in FIG.
1 is displayed on the display 12. When the user performs an input operation for color sample printing on the property screen 40, the printer 30 uses the color sample 50 shown in FIG. 6 as a practical medium that is a medium for actually printing an image based on the image data G. Is printed (step S1).
Specifically, the user sets the media setting 41 and the paper setting 42 on the property screen 40.
Thus, the printing operation of the printer 30 is set. In detail, the user sets the media setting 41.
Are set as the paper type, color to be printed (monochrome or color), print quality (high-speed printing or high-quality printing), and color correction. In color correction, a color profile corresponding to the type of color space is selected by setting the type of color space. Then, the entire color adjustment unit 21 converts the color space using the selected color profile.

In this embodiment, as a default, the paper type is set to “MC thick matte paper” used for a poster or the like, and the color to be printed is set to “color”. In addition, the print quality is set to “clean” as high-quality printing, the color correction is automatic, and the color to be used is set to a predetermined reference color (sRGB). Further, as the paper setting 42, the paper feeding method and page size can be set by the user. In this embodiment, the paper feeding method is set to “roll paper” and the page size is set to “A4” as default. Has been.

In the PC 11, the image data G is set by the designated color adjustment tool 43 as the media setting 41.
It is possible to adjust only the color of a specific area selected as an area requiring color adjustment in the image area. In the present embodiment, adjustment is performed so that the color of the designated area SR of the image data G in FIG. 2 becomes the designated color at the time of printing. Specifically, when the user selects the designated color adjustment tool 43 on the property screen 40, the designated color adjustment tool screen 44 in FIG.
Is displayed.

Then, on the designated color adjustment tool screen 44 shown in FIG.
6 is displayed on the display 12 of the PC 11.
As shown in FIG. 6, the color sample 50 is composed of rectangular color patches which are examples of patch images arranged in a plurality in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and each hue of the Munsell hue ring is arranged in a row in the horizontal direction. The hue is gradually changed so as to be arranged, and the brightness and saturation are gradually changed in the vertical direction. The color swatch 50 is divided in warm colors, and the orange (YR) and yellow (Y) warm colors, yellow green (GY) and green (G) from the left end to the right end in the horizontal direction.
Neutral color system, blue-green (BG) and blue (B) cold color system, bluish purple (PB), purple (P), and magenta (RP) neutral color system, red (R) warm color system The hue changes in the order of. That is, the color sample 50 is configured such that color patches adjacent in the horizontal direction are approximate colors.

Further, the color sample 50 displays all the colors of the area that can be printed by the printer 30 including the colors of the color variable chart 60 (see FIG. 7) described later. That is, in the color area of the color sample 50, when a predetermined color of the color sample 50 is selected and the color variable chart 60 is created based on that color, all the colors of the color sample chart 60 can be printed. It is an area. As a result, when the color sample 50 is printed, the printed color sample 50 can be printed over almost all the colors of the area that can be printed by the printer 30 including the colors of the color variable chart 60.

The horizontal direction of the color swatch 50 is made up of 42 color patches arranged.
Numbers “0” to “355” are given as horizontal positions. The color patches other than the “0” color patch which is the red color patch at the right end and the “10” color patch adjacent to the color patch increase from the left end toward the right end in increments of “5”. Color sample 50
The hue value of each color in the horizontal direction increases from the left to the right.

In the vertical direction of the color sample 50, the brightness (B) changes between “40%” and “100%” in increments of “10%”. FIG. 6 shows the median value of the saturation (S) in the range of “0” to “100”.
50 "color sample. The saturation (S) is changed, for example, in increments of “10”, and color samples with a saturation (S) of “60” or more and color samples of “40” or less are arranged side by side in the vertical direction of the color sample 50. It may be displayed. As described above, each color patch of the color sample 50 includes a hue value, a lightness value, a saturation value, and a horizontal position as position information.

The printer driver 20 can change the hue at both ends in the horizontal direction of the color sample 50 based on the operation of the keyboard 13 or the mouse 14. For example, when the user frequently adjusts the warm color, the user sets the color to be separated in the cold color. As a result, the color sample 50 extends from the left end in the horizontal direction to the right end in a blue cold color system, a blue purple color, a purple color, and a red purple neutral color system, a red color, an orange color, and a yellow warm color system, a yellow green color, and a yellow color. The hue changes in the order of green neutral color system and blue-green cold color system. The user sets the color sample 50 and then prints it with the printer 30.

Next, the user visually observes the sample color medium as the practical medium (for example, MC thick mat paper) on which the designated color is printed and the color sample 50 printed on the MC thick mat paper by the printer 30. A color similar to the color of the sample color medium is searched from the colors of the color sample 50 as the first color. Then, when the user finds a color (first color) approximately similar to the color of the sample color medium from the color sample 50, the user uses the mouse 14 to select a color patch of that color on the color sample 50 displayed on the display 12. Selection is made by clicking (step S2). That is, the user
The position information of the color patch of the color sample 50 is selected. Thereby, based on the chart generation table read from the storage unit 18, a color variable chart in which a plurality of colors are arranged around the specific color patch SC that is the color patch of the selected color (first color). 60 is created (step S3). When the first color is selected from the color sample 50, a numerical value indicating the selected color may be designated.

As shown in FIG. 7, the color variable chart 60 created in step S3 includes a display mode setting unit 46A, a numerical value input unit 46B, and a step number setting unit in the color check chart 46 in the designated color adjustment tool screen 44 of FIG. 46C, the K value setting unit 46D, and the setting determination unit 46E are changed according to each setting.

The display mode setting unit 46A changes the display format of the color variable chart 60 to RGB format and CMYK.
Set to one of the formats. The display content of the numerical value input unit 46B is changed according to the setting result of the display mode setting unit 46A, and RGB values or CMs are used as the color component values of the color variable chart 60.
YK value can be input. The step number setting unit 46 </ b> C sets the step number that is the magnitude of the change in the RGB value or CMY value of each color patch in the color variable chart 60. The K value setting unit 46D sets the amplitude of the K value when the CMYK format is selected in the display mode setting unit 46A.

In the present embodiment, since the CMYK format is selected by the display mode setting unit 46A, the numerical value input unit 46B has display contents that can input CMY values. In the present embodiment, the step number setting unit 46C sets the step number to “5”, and the K value setting unit 46D sets the amplitude of the K value to “5”.

According to the setting of the color check chart 46, the K value is “25”, “30”, “35”.
These three types of color variable charts 60 are created. The color variable chart 60 of FIG. 7 is a color variable chart when the K value is “30”, for example.

As shown in FIG. 7, the color variable chart 60 includes a specific color patch SC and a plurality of peripheral color patches GC arranged around the specific color patch SC. The plurality of surrounding color patches GC are arranged so as to extend in three different directions at intervals of 120 ° with the specific color patch SC as the center. Specifically, the color variable chart 60 is a color patch of 3 rows, 4 rows, 7 rows, 7 rows, 7 rows, 7 rows, 7 rows, 4 rows, 3 rows in the vertical direction from left to right. Are arranged.

The chart generation table is a table indicating changes in CMY values corresponding to the above-described columns of color patches, and coefficients (for example, −2, −1) indicating changes in CMY values with respect to a specific color patch SC in each surrounding color patch GC. , 0, 1, 2). A value obtained by multiplying the coefficient by the number of steps is added to the CMY value of the specific color patch SC to calculate the CMY value of each surrounding color patch GC. In this embodiment, since the number of steps is “5”, as shown in FIG. 7, the CMY values of the surrounding color patches GC are −10, −5, 0, 5, with respect to the CMY values of the specific color patch SC. It has been changed between 10.

FIG. 8 shows regions divided according to the change tendency of the CMY values of the color variable chart 60 of FIG.
Note that the CMY values of the surrounding color patch GC in FIG. 8 are not shown in FIG.
Corresponds to the CMY values of the surrounding color patch GC.

The color variable chart 60 can be divided into a plurality of regions grouped for each color component in the circumferential direction around the specific color patch SC. In this embodiment, the patch area is divided into three areas, that is, a C value fixing area 71 that is an area surrounded by a broken line, a Y value fixing area 72 that is an area surrounded by a one-dot chain line, and a two-dot chain line. The description will be made assuming that the M value fixed region 73 that is an enclosed region is included. Each of the C value fixed area 71, the Y value fixed area 72, and the M value fixed area 73 is
It is formed by a hexagon centered on a predetermined surrounding color patch GC1 to GC3. The C value fixed region 71, the Y value fixed region 72, and the M value fixed region 73 are arranged adjacent to each other and part of the regions overlap each other. The peripheral color patch GC in the region where the C value fixed region 71 and the Y value fixed region 72 overlap is fixed as the C value and the Y value are increased, and the M value increases as the distance from the specific color patch SC increases. In the surrounding color patch GC in the region where the C value fixed region 71 and the M value fixed region 73 overlap, the C value and the M value are fixed, and the Y value increases as the distance from the specific color patch SC increases. The surrounding color patch GC in the region where the Y value fixed region 72 and the M value fixed region 73 overlap is fixed as the Y value and the M value are fixed, and the C value increases as the distance from the specific color patch SC increases.

In the C value fixed area 71, the C value as the first color component value is fixed with respect to the CMY values of the specific color patch SC, and the Y value as the second color component value and the M value as the third color component value. At least one of the first patch areas is changed. The C value fixed area 71 is divided into a decrease area 71A for decreasing at least one of the M value and the Y value, and an increase area 71B for increasing at least one of the M value and the Y value without decreasing the M value and the Y value. Is done. An increasing area 71B and a decreasing area 71A are arranged side by side in the direction from the specific color patch SC toward the color patch GC1 that is the center of the C value fixing area 71. The increase area 71 </ b> B includes the specific color patch SC and is arranged inside the color variable chart 60. The decrease area 71A is disposed outside the increase area 71B.

In the Y value fixing area 72, the Y value as the second color component value is fixed with respect to the CMY values of the specific color patch SC, and the C value as the first color component value and the M value as the third color component value. At least one of the second patch areas is changed. The Y value fixed area 72 is divided into a decrease area 72A for decreasing at least one of the C value and the M value, and an increase area 72B for increasing at least one of the C value and the M value without decreasing the Y value. An increasing area 72B and a decreasing area 72A are arranged side by side in the direction from the specific color patch SC toward the color patch GC2 that is the center of the Y value fixing area 72. The increase area 72B includes the specific color patch SC, is disposed inside the color variable chart 60, and is adjacent to the increase area 71B in a partially overlapping state. The decrease area 72A is disposed outside the increase area 72B.

In the M value fixed area 73, the M value as the third color component value is fixed with respect to the CMY values of the specific color patch SC, and the C value as the first color component value and the Y value as the second color component value are displayed. At least one of the third patch areas is changed. The M value fixed area 73 is divided into a decrease area 73A for decreasing at least one of the C value and the Y value, and an increase area 73B for increasing at least one of the C value and the Y value without decreasing the M value. An increasing area 73B and a decreasing area 73A are arranged side by side in the direction from the specific color patch SC toward the color patch GC3 that is the center of the M value fixing area 73. The increase area 73B includes the specific color patch SC, is disposed inside the color variable chart 60, and is adjacent to the increase area 71B and the increase area 72B in a partially overlapping state.

In addition, each increase area | region 71B-73B comprises the inner peripheral area | region which consists of a patch area | region divided into three, and each reduction | decrease area | region 71A-73A comprises the outer periphery area | region arrange | positioned outside an inner periphery area | region. Yes.

Next, when the user selects the fine adjustment tool printing 47 on the designated color adjustment tool screen 44 of FIG. 5, the printer 30 prints three types of color variable charts 60 having different K values on the MC thick matte paper (step S4). ). Then, the user uses the printed color variable chart 60 and the sample color medium to visually search the color variable chart 60 for a color that matches (or approximates) the color of the sample color medium ( Step S5). In this step S5, the user
The color of the sample color medium is compared with the color of the color variable chart 60 by moving the sample color medium around the specific color patch SC of the color variable chart 60. That is, the user compares the color of the sample color medium and the color of the color variable chart 60 by moving the sample color medium in each of the increase areas 71B to 73B. When the user cannot find a color that matches (or approximates) the color of the sample color medium in each of the increase areas 71B to 73B, the color of the sample color medium in each of the decrease areas 71A to 73A of the color variable chart 60. Look for colors that match (or approximate).

Next, when the user finds a color that matches (or approximates) the color of the sample color medium in the color variable chart 60, the color that matches (or approximates) the color of the sample color medium from the color variable chart 60. Are input to the numerical value input section 46B of the color check chart 46 of FIG. 5 (step S6). Next, the user sets the setting determination unit 46E of the color check chart 46.
By selecting “OK”, the designated color conversion unit 26 changes the color of the designated area SR in step S6.
In step S7, the color is converted into a color that becomes the CMYK value input in step S7. Thereby, when the image of FIG. 2 is printed on the MC thick mat paper by the printer 30, the designated area SR matches (or approximates) the color (designated color) of the sample color medium.

The operation of the color adjustment method of this embodiment will be described.
For example, when the name of a company or organization exists in a part of the image area as in the image data G of FIG. 2, the specified area SR constituting the name needs to match the specified color that is the corporate color. is there. For this reason, the corporate color (designated color) is often set as a Lab value.

On the other hand, in order to correct the color difference between the image data G displayed on the display 12 and the image printed by the printer 30, the overall color adjustment unit 21 may adjust the overall color of the image data G. In this case, since the color of the designated area SR is similarly adjusted, the designated area SR
May be different from the corporate color.

Therefore, in the color adjustment method of the present embodiment, the designated color adjustment unit 23 performs color adjustment only on the designated region SR. Thereby, even if the color of the designated area SR is color-adjusted by the overall color adjusting unit 21, the color of the designated area SR can be adjusted to the corporate color.

Even if the overall color of the image data G is adjusted by the overall color adjustment unit 21, the color of the designated region SR in the image data G displayed on the display 12 and the designated region SR of the image actually printed on the body. The color may be different. For this reason, when the color of the designated area SR displayed on the display 12 is adjusted, the color of the designated area SR actually printed on the medium may be different from the corporate color. Further, when a metallic color is used as the color of the designated area SR, the display 12 cannot grasp the light condition.

Therefore, in the color adjustment method of the present embodiment, the user uses the color sample 50 printed by the printer 30 and the color variable chart 60 to compare with the color of the sample color medium indicating the corporate color. In this way, since the user performs color matching by comparing the printed actual objects, the color of the designated area SR can be accurately matched to the corporate color.

According to the color adjustment method of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The color variable chart 60 fixes one or two color component values of the CMY values in the surrounding color patch GC, and the fixed color component of the three color component values in the direction away from the specific color patch SC. It is composed of a C value fixed area 71, a Y value fixed area 72, and an M value fixed area 73 for changing other than the values. For this reason, the C value fixed area 71, the Y value fixed area 72,
In addition, since the colors of the adjacent color patches in each of the M value fixed areas 73 are similar to each other, it is easy to search for a desired color. Therefore, a desired color can be easily selected in the color variable chart 60.

(2) The color variable chart 60 includes increase areas 71B to 73B that are inner peripheral areas and decrease areas 71A to 73A that are outer peripheral areas. For this reason, each increase area | region 71B-73B
In each of the reduction areas 71A to 73A, each color patch has a more approximate color. In addition, since the increased areas 71B to 73B are formed around the specific color patch SC, color patches of colors that are approximate to the periphery of the specific color patch SC are arranged. Therefore, it becomes easier to find a desired color by sequentially viewing the color patches adjacent in the circumferential direction of the specific color patch SC.

(3) The specific color patch SC is a color selected in the color sample 50 and is arranged at the center of the color variable chart 60, so that a desired color can be easily found in the color variable chart 60.

(4) Even when the corporate color has the same Lab value, the color printed on the medium may appear different depending on the type of the medium. Therefore, in step S1 of the color adjustment method, the color sample 50 is printed by the printer 30 on the same type of practical medium (roll paper P) as the sample color medium, and in step S4, the same practical medium (roll paper P) as the sample color. Color change chart 60
Is printed by the printer 30. In this way, since the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 are printed on the same type of medium (roll paper P) as the sample color medium, the colors of the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 printed due to different types of media. Is suppressed from being different from the colors of the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 printed on the practical medium. Therefore, the color difference between the color of the designated region SR of the image data G and the color of the image actually printed on the medium based on the image data G can be reduced.

(5) Since the printer prints the medium after converting the Lab value to the CMYK value, the CMYK value when the Lab value is converted to the CMYK value may vary depending on the type of the printer. Also, the printer may vary in the distance between the medium and the head for each product of the printer due to processing errors and assembly errors of each part. For this reason, even if an image having the same CMYK value is printed on the medium, the color of the image printed on the medium may be slightly different.

Therefore, in the printing system 10, the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 are printed by the same printer 30. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of color variation between the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 due to the printer 30.

(6) The printer 30 can print the color sample 50 over almost all of the colors in the area that can be printed by the printer 30 including the colors of the color variable chart 60. For this reason, the width of the color selected by the color sample 50 can be expanded.

(7) The color sample 50 has a configuration in which Munsell hue rings are arranged in a line. Thereby, in the color sample 50, it arranges so that the color of the adjacent color patch may approximate, Therefore It is easy for a user to find the color approximated to the designated color.

(8) The printer driver 20 includes the designated color adjustment unit 23. For this reason, the cost of the printing system 10 can be reduced compared to a configuration in which a driver outside the PC 11 such as a RIP (Raster Image Processor) is provided with the designated color adjustment unit 23 in addition to the printer driver 20.

(9) In the color variable chart 60, the width of the K value of the surrounding color patch GC is set separately from the number of steps that is the width of the CMY value. For this reason, the color of the color patch of the color variable chart 60 can be changed more finely.

The present embodiment may be changed to another embodiment as described below.
In the above embodiment, the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 may be printed by a printer different from the printer 30.

In the above embodiment, the designated color adjustment unit 23 is omitted from the printer driver 20, and a driver outside the PC 11 such as a RIP (Raster Image Processor) is used by the designated color adjustment unit 2.
3 may be sufficient.

In the above embodiment, one designated area SR is selected, and the color of the designated area SR is adjusted by the color adjustment method. However, if there are a plurality of designated areas SR in the image data, the areas similarly for these designated areas SR Different colors may be adjusted for each.

In the above embodiment, the K value setting unit 46D may be omitted from the color check chart 46. In this case, the step number of the step number setting unit 46C corresponds to the amplitude of the K value.
In the above embodiment, at least one of the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 may be printed on a practical medium having a thickness different from the thickness of the sample color medium. In short, the practical medium for printing the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 is the sample color medium and the materials and properties (ink absorption, etc.).
May be the same type of medium. That is, any medium that looks the same color as the sample color medium when printed is acceptable.

In the above embodiment, when the ink cartridge of the printer 30 is replaced, it is preferable to print the color sample 50 and the color variable chart 60 with the ink of the replaced ink cartridge.

In the above embodiment, when the color variable chart 60 is created, after converting RGB values or Lab values into CMYK values, the color variable chart 60 based on the CMYK values may be created. In this case, since each color patch of the color variable chart 60 also includes a K value, the creation of a plurality of color variable charts 60 with the K value varied is omitted. For this reason, a desired color can be selected by one color variable chart 60.

-You may change the number of the color patches of the color variable chart 60 of the said embodiment. The number of color patch columns may be changed.
-You may replace the position of each increase area | region 71B-73B of the color variable chart 60 of the said embodiment, and the position of each decrease area | region 71A-73A.

In the color variable chart 60 of the above embodiment, the C value fixed area 71 and the Y value fixed area 72
, And one or two fixed areas of the M value fixed area 73 may be omitted. When the fixed area is omitted, the color patch in which all color component values are changed with respect to the color component value of the specific color patch SC or one of the C value, the M value, and the Y value or Includes a color patch with two fixed and other color component values changed.

-You may change the color variable chart 60 of the said embodiment as FIG. 9 shows. In the following description, the C value fixed areas 92A and 93B are areas where the C value is fixed and at least one of the M value and the Y value decreases, and the M value fixed areas 91A and 93A have a fixed M value. Is a region where at least one of the C value and the Y value decreases, and the Y value fixed regions 91B and 92B.
Is a region where the Y value is fixed and at least one of the C value and the M value decreases.

An increase area 80 as an inner peripheral area, which is an area of a color patch in which at least one CMY value is larger than the CMY value of the specific color patch SC, and at least one CMY value is smaller than the CMY value of the specific color patch SC. It consists of a decrease area 90 as an outer peripheral area which is a color patch area.

The increasing area 80 is a color patch arrangement configuration in which the maximum value among the CMY values increases from the center of the color variable chart 60 toward the outer peripheral side. The increase region 80 is a patch region that is configured by regions that become color patches arranged in a hexagonal shape with the specific color patch SC as the center, and is partitioned by three broken lines DL1 to DL3. Dashed line DL1
The upper surrounding color patch GC has a C value that increases with distance from the specific color patch SC. The surrounding color patch GC on the broken line DL2 increases as the distance from the specific color patch SC increases.
The value increases. The surrounding color patch GC on the broken line DL3 increases in Y value as the distance from the specific color patch SC increases.

The increase area 80 is a first increase area 81 which is three patch areas by broken lines DL1 to DL3.
To be partitioned into a third increase region 83. Note that the color patch on the broken line DL1 is included in the second increase region 82 and the third increase region 83. The color patch on the broken line DL2 indicates the first increase area 8.
The first and third increased regions 83 are included. The color patch on the broken line DL3 is the first increase area 81.
And included in the second increase region 82.

The first increase area 81 is an area formed in a first direction D1, which is a direction extending on the opposite side to the broken line DL1 with respect to the specific color patch SC. The first increasing area 81 is a first patch composed of a color patch having a fixed C value as the first color component value and increasing at least one of the Y value as the second color component value and the M value as the third color component value. One patch area.

The second increase region 82 is a region formed in the second direction D2, which is a direction extending on the opposite side of the broken line DL2 with respect to the specific color patch SC. The second increase area 82 is a first patch composed of color patches in which the M value as the third color component value is fixed and at least one of the C value as the first color component value and the Y value as the second color component value increases. 2 patch areas.

The third increase region 83 is a region formed in a third direction D3 that is a direction extending on the opposite side to the broken line DL3 with respect to the specific color patch SC. The third increase area 83 is a third patch area where the Y value as the second color component value is fixed and at least one of the C value as the first color component value and the M value as the third color component value increases. is there.

The decrease region 90 is configured by a first decrease region 91, a second decrease region 92, and a third decrease region 93 which are three spaced regions adjacent to the outer peripheral side of the increase region 80. Decrease area 9
0 is a color patch arrangement configuration in which one of the CMY values decreases from the center of the color variable chart 60 toward the outer periphery.

The first decrease region 91 is disposed outside the first increase region 81 in the first direction D1. The first decrease area 91 is defined by an M value fixed area 9 by a first dividing line SL1 indicated by a two-dot chain line.
It is partitioned into 1A and a Y value fixed area 91B. The color patch on the first lane marking SL1 is included in the M value fixed area 91A and the Y value fixed area 91B. The M value fixed area 91A is formed near the broken line DL3, and the Y value fixed area 91B is formed near the broken line DL2.

The second decrease region 92 is disposed outside the second increase region 82 in the second direction D2. The second decreasing region 92 is a C value fixed region 9 by a second dividing line SL2 indicated by a two-dot chain line.
2A and a Y value fixed area 92B. The color patch on the second partition line SL2 is included in the C value fixed area 92A and the Y value fixed area 92B. The C value fixed region 92A is formed near the broken line DL3, and the Y value fixed region 92B is formed near the broken line DL1.

The third decrease region 93 is disposed outside the third increase region 83 in the third direction D3. The third decrease region 93 is the M value fixed region 9 by the third lane marking SL3 indicated by the two-dot chain line.
It is divided into 3A and C value fixed area 93B. The M value fixed region 93A is formed near the broken line DL1, and the C value fixed region 93B is formed near the broken line DL2.

In the color variable chart 60 of the above modification, the position of the increase area 80 and the position of each decrease area 90 may be interchanged. That is, the reduction area 90 is made up of color patches arranged in a hexagonal shape with the specific color patch SC as the center, and is divided into first reduction areas 91 to third reduction areas 93 by broken lines DL1 to DL3. The first reduction area 91 is an area extending in the first direction D1 with respect to the specific color patch SC, and the second reduction area 92 is an area extending in the second direction D2 with respect to the specific color patch SC. The decrease area 93 is an area extending in the third direction D3 with respect to the specific color patch SC.

The first increasing region 81 of the increasing region 80 is disposed side by side with the first decreasing region 91 in the first direction D1, and the second increasing region 82 is disposed side by side with the second decreasing region 92 in the second direction D2, The increase region 83 is arranged side by side with the third decrease region 93 in the third direction D3.

In the above embodiment, the printer 30 may be a dot impact printer or a laser printer as long as it can print on a medium. Further, the printer is not limited to a configuration having only a printing function, and may be a multifunction machine. Furthermore, the printer 30 is not limited to a serial printer, and may be a line printer or a page printer.

-The media printed by the printer 30 is not limited to roll paper P, but cut paper, resin film, metal foil, metal film, resin-metal composite film (laminate film), woven fabric, non-woven fabric, ceramic sheet Etc.

The liquid discharged from the head 32 as a minute amount of liquid droplets is granular, tear-like,
Including thread-tailed tails. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected from the head 32. For example, it may be in a state when the substance is in a liquid phase, a liquid material having high or low viscosity, sol, gel, other inorganic solvent, organic solvent,
It shall include fluids such as solutions and liquid resins. Further, not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a particle in which solid particles such as a pigment are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent is included. When the liquid is an ink, the ink includes various liquid compositions such as general water-based ink and oil-based ink, gel ink, and hot-melt ink.

In the above embodiment, the printing system 10 may be a touch panel electronic information terminal instead of the PC 11. In this case, the electronic information terminal includes a printer driver 20.

60 ... color variable chart, 71 ... C value fixed area as the first patch area, 72 ... Y value fixed area as the second patch area, 73 ... M value fixed area as the third patch area, 71A, 7
2A, 73A ... Decreasing region as outer peripheral region, 71B, 72B, 73B ... Increasing region as inner peripheral region, 80 ... Increasing region as inner peripheral region, 81 ... First increasing region as first patch region, 82 ... First 2nd increase area as 2 patch areas, 83 ... 3rd increase area as 3rd patch area, 90 ... Decrease area as outer peripheral area, SC ... Specific color patch, GC ... Surrounding color patch.

Claims (6)

A color variable chart comprising a specific color patch that is a color patch arranged in the center and a peripheral color patch arranged around the specific color patch;
The surrounding color patch has a plurality of patch areas divided in a circumferential direction around the specific color patch, and at least one of the plurality of divided patch areas is included in the specific color patch. One or two of the two color component values are fixed,
A color variable chart comprising a color patch in which a color component value other than a fixed color component value among the two color component values is changed. The patch region has an inner peripheral region composed of color patches arranged around the specific color patch, and an outer peripheral region composed of color patches arranged outside the inner peripheral region,
One of the inner peripheral area and the outer peripheral area does not decrease with respect to the color component value of the specific color patch, but increases one or two of the three color component values. The other of the inner peripheral area and the outer peripheral area is one or two of the three color component values.
The color variable chart according to claim 1, wherein the color variable chart is a reduction region in which two color component values are reduced. The three color component values are composed of a first color component value, a second color component value, and a third color component value,
The plurality of patch areas are
A first patch region comprising a color patch in which the first color component value is fixed and at least one of the second color component value and the third color component value is changed;
A second patch region comprising a color patch in which the second color component value is fixed and at least one of the first color component value and the third color component value is changed;
The third color component value is fixed, and includes a third patch region including a color patch in which at least one of the first color component value and the second color component value is changed. The color variable chart described in 1. The color variable chart according to claim 1, wherein the three color component values are red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The color variable chart according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the three color component values are cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). The color variable chart according to claim 1, wherein the color of the specific color patch is a color selected for color adjustment.