JP5929405B2 - Image processing system, image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image forming apparatus, and a program.

  There is a technique for controlling a reference image (calibration patch) used for calibration (calibration) of a printing unit so as to be printed together with an image that requires printing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for forming a reference image by switching a plurality of types of gradation patterns in a predetermined order in a marginal area of a sheet when printing a target image according to a user instruction.

JP 2005-318478 A

  One of the objects of the present invention is that a plurality of print media on which a reference image can be arranged in a marginal margin portion of an area where an image to be printed is formed and where the image is formed are formed in the marginal margin portion. A reference image is formed and continuously output.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an image processing system, in which a print request receiving unit that receives an image print request and a print medium on which an image that is requested to be printed is output from the printing unit. If the reference image used for the calibration of the printing means can be arranged in the marginal margin of the area where the image that is required to be printed is formed in the plurality of print media that are output in the same manner, the plurality of prints Control means for controlling the medium so as to form the reference image in the peripheral margin.

  Invention of Claim 2 is an image processing system of Claim 1, Comprising: The said control means can be arrange | positioned in the said margin margin part about the some printing medium output from a printing means continuously When the total number of the reference images reaches a predetermined number, control is performed so that the reference images are formed together with images that are required to be printed on the plurality of continuous print media. is there.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the first aspect, wherein the control means can be arranged in the marginal margins for a plurality of print media output from the printing means in succession. If the total number of the reference images does not reach a predetermined number, control is performed so that images that require printing are formed on the plurality of continuous print media and the reference images are not formed. That's what it meant.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the control means accepts a part of a plurality of reference images to be arranged. It is formed on a print medium on which an image is formed according to a request, and the rest of the plurality of reference images is controlled to be formed on a print medium on which an image is formed in response to another received print request. is there.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the control means forms a print medium on which a part of the plurality of reference images is formed, and an image that requires printing is formed. However, the order in which the print media are output is controlled in the order of the print medium on which the reference image is not formed and the print medium on which the rest of the plurality of reference images are formed.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the control means includes a print medium on which a part of the plurality of reference images is formed, and a remaining portion of the plurality of reference images. The order in which the print media are output is controlled so that the print media on which are formed are continuously output.

  A seventh aspect of the invention is the image processing system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein an image that is required to be printed and the reference image are formed in accordance with control by the control means. It further includes printing means for outputting either a print medium or a print medium on which an image requiring printing is formed but the reference image is not formed.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system, wherein a print request receiving unit that receives an image print request and an image that requires printing are formed in a plurality of print media that are targets of continuous output. When the reference image used for calibration of the printing means can be arranged in the peripheral margin part of the area to be printed, an image that requires printing is formed, and the reference image is formed in the peripheral margin part. Printing means for continuously outputting a plurality of print media.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein a print request receiving unit that receives an image print request and a plurality of print media on which an image that is requested to be printed is continuously output from the printing unit. When a reference image used for calibration of printing means can be arranged in a marginal margin of a region where an image that requires printing is formed in a plurality of print media that are continuously output. And a control means for controlling the plurality of print media so as to form the reference image in the marginal margin portion.

  The invention according to claim 10 is a program, wherein a print request accepting means for accepting an image print request, and a plurality of print media on which an image for which printing is requested are continuously output from the print means. When a reference image used for calibration of the printing means can be arranged in a marginal margin of a region where an image to be printed is formed in a plurality of continuously output print media, the plurality In this print medium, the computer is caused to function as a control unit that controls to form the reference image in the peripheral margin.

  According to the first, eighth, ninth, and tenth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of prints in which an image requiring printing is formed, and a reference image can be arranged in a marginal margin of a region where the image is formed. The medium is continuously output after the reference image is formed in the peripheral margin.

  According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, a plurality of print media in which an image for which printing is requested is formed but a reference image is not formed are output in succession, or an image for which printing is requested is also used as a reference. Whether a plurality of print media on which an image is also formed is output continuously, or a region in the print medium on which a print-required image is formed for a plurality of print media output from the printing unit continuously The total number of reference images that can be arranged in the peripheral margin portion of the image can be controlled depending on whether or not the predetermined number is reached.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, control is performed so that a plurality of reference images to be arranged are formed on a print medium that is printed in response to a print request over a plurality of print requests.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the plurality of reference images to be arranged are output before the print medium on which the reference image is not formed and after the print medium on which the reference image is not formed. And the print medium to be formed separately.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of reference images to be arranged are output before the print medium on which the reference image is not formed and after the print medium on which the reference image is not formed. It is prevented that the print medium is formed separately.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the image requested to be printed is formed but the reference image is not formed, or the image is formed according to the control of whether the image requested to be printed and the reference image are formed. Print media to be output.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a positional relationship between a target image and a print medium on which the target image is formed. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a reference | standard image. It is a figure which shows another example of a reference | standard image. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the function implement | achieved by the print server in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed by the print server in one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a series of print job management information. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of whether or not a reference image can be arranged with respect to a peripheral margin portion of the print medium and a gradation pattern assigned to the peripheral margin portion of the print medium.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a printer 12, a print server 14, a scanner 16, and a user terminal 18. These are connected to each other via communication means such as a LAN and the Internet, and communicate with each other.

  In this embodiment, the printer 12 is a device that performs printing using toners of four colors, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). In this embodiment, the user terminal 18 is, for example, a personal computer, and makes an image print request to the print server 14 based on a user operation. In this embodiment, the print server 14 schedules print jobs associated with print requests received from the user terminal 18 via, for example, communication means, and handles print jobs in the order determined by the scheduling. The attached print instruction is output to the printer 12.

  In this embodiment, for example, the print server 14 outputs printing instructions to the printer 12 in principle in the order in which image print requests are received. The print server 14 in the present embodiment is used for, for example, an image requested to be printed (hereinafter referred to as a target image 20) and calibration of the printer 12 according to the attributes of the print job. A print medium 24 (paper or the like) on which an image including a predetermined gradation pattern (hereinafter referred to as a reference image 22) and a composite image are formed, or a target image 20 is formed. A print instruction is output to the printer 12 for any of the print media 24 on which the reference image 22 including a predetermined gradation pattern is not formed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the positional relationship between the target image 20 and the print medium 24 on which the target image 20 is formed. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reference image 22. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the reference image 22.

  Further, the print server 14 according to the present embodiment performs, for example, gradation adjustment calculation processing, generates gradation correction information for realizing the reference gradation specification by the printer 12, and looks for the calibration for the printer 12. It also has a function of setting in an up table (LUT).

  In the present embodiment, the scanner 16 is a color scanner provided to measure the density of an image represented by a gradation pattern included in the reference image 22 printed on the print medium 24 by the printer 12, A gradation pattern is read and converted into image information. Here, the image information corresponds to the density measurement result of the printed image. For example, the gradation pattern is composed of a patch chart for each color of CMYK. Each patch chart is composed of patches which are a plurality of image element regions having different image formation densities. For example, each patch has a rectangular print pattern (for example, a square whose side is d in length). There are two types of patch chart arrangement patterns in the reference image 22 according to the present embodiment, those illustrated in FIG. 3 and those illustrated in FIG. 4. In the reference image 22 illustrated in FIG. 3, 21 patches are arranged in a line. On the other hand, in the reference image 22 illustrated in FIG. 4, the patches are arranged in two rows. Further, in the reference image 22 illustrated in FIG. 4, 11 patches are arranged in one column and 10 patches are arranged in the other column. Hereinafter, the reference image 22 illustrated in FIG. 3 is referred to as a first arrangement reference image 22, and the reference image 22 illustrated in FIG. 4 is referred to as a second arrangement reference image 22.

  In many documents, there is a margin at the periphery of the print medium 24. In the present embodiment, when the reference image 22 is formed on the print medium 24, the reference image 22 is formed on the peripheral margin portion of the print medium 24. The reference image 22 may be formed in the margins of all sides of the print medium 24, or may be formed only in the margins of some sides.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an example of functions realized by the print server 14 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the print server 14 according to the present embodiment functionally includes, for example, a target image print request reception unit 30, a print job management information generation unit 32, a reference image print request reception unit 34, and an arrangement control unit. 36, and a print instruction output unit 38.

  The functions of the units shown in FIG. 5 are realized by executing a program installed in the print server 14 that is a computer and including instructions corresponding to the functions of the units shown in FIG. Yes. This program is supplied to the print server 14 via a computer-readable information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory, or via communication means such as the Internet.

  In this embodiment, the target image print request reception unit 30 receives a print request for the target image 20 from the user terminal 18, for example. The received print request includes, for example, print number information indicating the number of print media 24 to be printed, the position and size of the target image 20 in the print medium 24 (the target image 20 is printed on a plurality of print media 24). In this case, for each print medium 24, arrangement information indicating the position and size of the area occupied by the target image 20 in the print medium 24, the type of the print medium 24 to be printed (for example, coated paper, or Print medium type information indicating uncoated paper), priority information indicating the priority of the print job, arrangement availability information indicating whether the arrangement of the reference image 22 is permitted or prohibited (arrangement availability information is “permitted”, for example) Or a value of “prohibited”). For example, when there is a plan to use the marginal part of the print medium 24 on which the target image 20 is formed (for example, when there is a plan to overprint a patch or characters for visual observation, In the case where an image is scheduled to be printed), prohibition is set as the value of the arrangement availability information.

  In the present embodiment, the priority indicated by the priority information is expressed by numerical values such as 40 and 20, for example, and the higher the priority value, the higher priority is given to printing on the print medium 24 associated with the print job. Become. The priority may be set in the print request itself, or may be specified based on other information associated with the print request (for example, the user who made the request, the delivery date, etc.). The print request for the target image 20 received by the target image print request receiving unit 30 is managed as a print job in the print server 14.

  When the target image print request receiving unit 30 receives a print request, the print job management information generating unit 32 generates print job management information associated with the print request and stores the print job management information in the storage unit included in the print server 14. Remember. The print job management information includes, for example, a job identifier that is an identifier of a print job, attribute information that indicates an attribute of a print request, a target image 20 that is requested to be printed, and the like. Here, the attribute information may be information associated with the print request itself or information based on contents specified based on information associated with the print request. In the present embodiment, the attribute information includes, for example, the above-described print number information, the above-described arrangement information, the above-described print medium type information, the above-described priority information, and the above-described arrangement availability information.

  In the present embodiment, the print job management information generated by the print job management information generation unit 32 is enqueued in a queue stored in the storage unit of the print server 14. Here, in the present embodiment, when the print job management information to be generated includes print job management information whose priority information value associated with the print job management information is smaller than that of the print job management information, Is interrupted and enqueued before such print job management information.

  In the present embodiment, the reference image print request receiving unit 34 receives a print request for the reference image 22 from the user terminal 18, for example. The print request to be accepted includes, for example, the number of areas in which the reference image 22 is arranged, conditions regarding the type of print medium 24 on which the reference image 22 is to be printed (for example, coated paper or non-coated paper), and the reference image 22. Conditions relating to the priority of the print job to be printed (for example, the priority value is 30 or less) are associated. In the present embodiment, the number of regions in which the reference image 22 is arranged is specified by, for example, the type of gradation pattern of the reference image 22 to be arranged and the number of regions arranged for each type. Specifically, for example, a cyan (C) gradation pattern has two regions, a magenta (M) gradation pattern has two regions, a yellow (Y) gradation pattern has two regions, and a black (K) region. The gradation pattern is designated as two areas.

  When the reference image print request receiving unit 34 receives a print request for the reference image 22, the arrangement control unit 36 receives the received reference image 22 before a print instruction output unit 38 to be described later performs output processing of the next print instruction. In response to the print request, an area determination process for the reference image 22 is executed.

  Here, an example of the flow of processing for determining the region where the reference image 22 is arranged by the arrangement control unit 36 will be described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

  First, the arrangement control unit 36 specifies the print job management information at the head of the queue as attention print job management information (S101). Then, based on the attribute information associated with the noticeable print job management information, the arrangement control unit 36 determines whether the print medium 24 associated with the noticeable print job management information is an arrangement candidate for the reference image 22. Is determined (S102). In this processing example, for example, (1) the priority information value associated with the noticeable print job management information satisfies the condition regarding the priority associated with the print request for the reference image 22; The value of the placement permission / inhibition information associated with the management information is “permitted”, and (3) the type of the print medium 24 indicated by the print medium type information associated with the target print job management information is the print request for the reference image 22. If the associated reference image 22 satisfies any of the conditions regarding the type of print medium to be printed, the arrangement control unit 36 prints the print medium 24 associated with the target print job management information. Is determined as a candidate for arrangement of the reference image 22, and the arrangement control unit 36 does not satisfy at least one of the above conditions (1) to (3), The print medium 24 associated with the job management information, determines that no arrangement candidates of the reference image 22.

  If it is determined in the process shown in S102 that the print medium 24 associated with the noticeable print job management information is to be a candidate for the arrangement of the reference image 22 (Y in S102), the arrangement control unit 36 determines the noticeable print job. A region d1 surrounded by an upper side of the target image 20 arranged in the print medium 24 associated with the management information, an upper side of the print medium 24, an extension line of the left side of the target image 20, and an extension line of the right side of the target image 20; A region d2 surrounded by a lower side of the target image 20 arranged in the print medium 24, a lower side of the print medium 24, an extension line of the left side of the target image 20, and an extension line of the right side of the target image 20, in the print medium 24 The region d3 surrounded by the left side of the target image 20, the left side of the print medium 24, the extension line of the upper side of the target image 20, the extension line of the lower side of the target image 20, and the print medium 24. Right side of the target image 20 that the right side of the print medium 24, the upper side of the extension line of the target image 20, to identify the region d4, surrounded in an extension of the lower side of the target image 20 (S103). Here, when there are a plurality of print media 24 associated with the target print job management information, the above-described region d1, region d2, region d3, and region d4 are specified for each print medium 24. FIG. 2 shows an example of the above-described region d1, region d2, region d3, and region d4.

  Then, the placement control unit 36 can place either the reference image 22 illustrated in FIG. 3 or the reference image 22 illustrated in FIG. 4 from the region d1, the region d2, the region d3, and the region d4. A specific area is specified (S104). In this processing example, for example, an area where the horizontal length is (21d + threshold th) or more and the vertical length is (d + threshold th) or more, or the horizontal length is (d + threshold th) or more. A region whose vertical length is (21d + threshold th) or more is specified as a region where the reference image 22 of the first arrangement can be arranged, and its horizontal length is (11d + threshold th) or more. A region in which the length is (2d + threshold th) or more, or a region in which the horizontal length is (2d + threshold th) or more and the vertical length is (11d + threshold th) or more is the second arrangement reference. The area where the image 22 can be arranged is specified. In this way, in the present processing example, a maximum of four areas are specified as areas in which the reference image 22 can be arranged for one print medium 24. When a plurality of print media 24 are output, an area where the reference image 22 can be arranged is specified for each print medium 24.

  Then, the arrangement control unit 36 associates the total number of areas specified as areas in which the reference image 22 can be arranged in the print medium 24 associated with the target print job management information in association with the print request for the reference image 22. It is confirmed whether or not the number of areas is equal to or greater (S105).

  When the conditions exemplified in S105 are not satisfied (S105: N), or in the process shown in S102, it is determined that the print medium 24 associated with the target print job management information is not set as the arrangement candidate of the reference image 22. In this case (S102: N), the arrangement control unit 36 specifies the print job management information next to the noticeable print job management information in the queue as new noticeable print job management information (S106), and performs the processing shown in S102. Return.

  When the conditions exemplified in S105 are satisfied (S105: Y), the arrangement control unit 36 identifies each area specified as an area in which the reference image 22 can be arranged in the print medium 24 associated with the target print job management information. The type of gradation pattern of the reference image 22 to be arranged and the type of arrangement pattern of the reference image 22 are assigned to the area (S107), and the processing shown in this processing example ends.

  For example, in the print request for the reference image 22, two CMYK four types of gradation patterns are arranged (two gradation patterns are arranged in a total of eight areas), and printing indicating uncoated paper It is assumed that a condition relating to the type of the medium 24 and a condition relating to the priority indicating that the priority value is 30 or less are associated. 7, four print job management information (job identifier value is 1, print number information value is 1, priority information value is 40, print medium type information value is uncoated paper, print Print job management information in which the value of permission information is prohibited, the value of job identifier is 2, the value of print number information is 3, the value of priority information is 20, the value of print medium type information is uncoated paper, the print permission information Print job management information for which the value is permitted, the value of the job identifier is 3, the value of the number of printed sheets information is 3, the value of the priority information is 20, the value of the print medium type information is coated paper, and the value of the printability information is The permitted print job management information, the value of the job identifier is 4, the value of the number of printed sheets information is 3, the value of the priority information is 20, the value of the print medium type information is uncoated paper, and the value of the printability information is Allowed print job management information) is the job identifier value Queue arranged from the beginning from small ones to sequentially and be stored in the storage unit of the print server 14. When the process shown in S104 is executed for each print job management information, the print job management information having a job identifier value of 1 has two areas, and the job identifier value is 2. The print job management information includes two areas for each print medium 24, and the print job management information for which the job identifier value is 3, the print job management information for each print medium 24 has four areas and the job identifier value is 4. For each print medium 24, three areas are specified as areas where the reference image 22 can be arranged.

  At this time, the print job management information having a job identifier value of 1 has a priority information value exceeding 30 and the print permission / prohibition information value is “prohibited”. It is determined that the reference image 22 is not set as a placement candidate. Further, the print job management information having a job identifier value of 2 does not satisfy the above-described conditions exemplified in S105 because the total area where the reference image 22 can be arranged is less than 8. Also, the print job management information with the job identifier value of 3 is determined not to be a candidate for placement of the reference image 22 in the process exemplified in S102 because the print medium type information value is coated paper. It will be. The print job management information having a job identifier value of 4 satisfies the condition exemplified in S105 described above because the total area in which the reference image 22 can be arranged is 8 or more.

  FIG. 8 shows whether or not the reference image 22 is arranged with respect to the marginal margin portion of the print medium 24 on which the image is formed based on the print job management information whose job identifier value is 4, and the processing exemplified in the above S107. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a gradation pattern assigned to a peripheral margin portion of the print medium 24. As illustrated in FIG. 8, for print job management information having a job identifier value of 4, in the process illustrated in S104 described above, the first print medium 24 (expressed as No. 1 in FIG. 8). Area d1 and area d2, area d2, area d3 and area d4 of the second print medium 24 (expressed as No. 2 in FIG. 8), and third print medium 24 (expressed as No. 3 in FIG. 8) It is assumed that the region d1, the region d2, the region d3, and the region d4 are specified as regions where the reference image 22 can be arranged. In FIG. 8, “Y” is written on the left side of the column associated with the area where the reference image 22 can be arranged, and “N” is written on the left side of the column associated with the area where the reference image 22 cannot be arranged. Has been.

  In the present processing example, in the processing illustrated in S107, for example, different types of gradation patterns are assigned to corresponding regions (regions associated with the same code) of different print media 24. To. For example, when two CMYK four kinds of gradation patterns are arranged, two different gradation patterns (for example, the first print medium 24) are arranged in the area d1 of the first print medium 24 and the area d1 of the third print medium 24. The area d1 of the medium 24 has a magenta (M) gradation pattern (represented as M1 in the example of FIG. 8), and the area d1 of the third print medium 24 has a cyan (C) gradation pattern (FIG. 8). In this example, the expression C2) is assigned. In addition, the region d2 of the first print medium 24 and the region d2 of the third print medium 24 have different gradation patterns (for example, the cyan (C) gradation in the region d2 of the first print medium 24). A pattern (represented as C1 in the example of FIG. 8) and a black (K) gradation pattern (represented as K2 in the example of FIG. 8) are assigned to the area d2 of the third print medium 24. Also, the area d3 of the second print medium 24 and the area d3 of the third print medium 24 have different gradation patterns (for example, the black (K) gradation in the area d3 of the second print medium 24). A pattern (expressed as K1 in the example of FIG. 8) and a gradation pattern of yellow (Y) (expressed as Y2 in the example of FIG. 8) are assigned to the area d3 of the third print medium 24. Also, the area d4 of the second print medium 24 and the area d4 of the third print medium 24 have different gradation patterns (for example, the yellow (Y) gradation in the area d4 of the second print medium 24). A pattern (expressed as Y1 in the example of FIG. 8) and a magenta (M) gradation pattern (expressed as M2 in the example of FIG. 8) are assigned to the area d4 of the third print medium 24. In the example of FIG. 8, on the right side of the column associated with the area to which the gradation pattern is assigned, an alphabet corresponding to the assigned gradation pattern and a number indicating the order in which the gradation pattern is assigned are described. "-" Is written on the right side of the column associated with the area to which no gradation pattern is assigned. In the example of FIG. 8, for the second print medium 24, gradation patterns are assigned to the areas d3 and d4. Instead, gradation patterns are assigned to the areas d2 and d3. Also, the gradation pattern may be assigned to the region d2 and the region d4.

  In this processing example, the reference image 22 of the type of arrangement pattern is assigned to an area where one of the above-described two types of arrangement patterns of the reference image 22 can be arranged. In addition, one of the areas determined according to a predetermined rule is assigned to an area where both of the reference images 22 of the two types of arrangement patterns described above can be arranged. For example, a reference image 22 in which patches are arranged in two rows is assigned to a region along the short side, and a reference image 22 in which patches are arranged in a row is assigned to the region along the long side. In the example of FIG. 8, for example, for any print medium 24, the second arrangement reference image 22 is assigned to the area d1 and the area d2, and the first arrangement reference image 22 is assigned to the area d3 and the area d4. Is assigned.

  The print instruction output unit 38 dequeues the print job management information arranged at the head of the queue stored in the storage unit of the print server 14, and stores profile information and calibration stored in the print server 14. A print instruction corresponding to the print job management information is output to the printer 12 based on the LUT. At this time, when the gradation pattern type and the arrangement pattern type of the reference image 22 are assigned to the marginal margin of the print medium 24 associated with the print job management information, the assignment is performed together with the target image 20. A print instruction for the image on which the reference image 22 is arranged is output to the printer 12.

  Upon receiving a print instruction from the print server 14, the printer 12 outputs a print medium 24 on which the target image 20 is formed or a print medium 24 on which the target image 20 and the reference image 22 are formed according to the print instruction. .

  In this embodiment, the scanner 16 reads the patch chart included in the reference image 22 printed by the printer 12 for each of the plurality of gradation patterns, and displays information indicating the read result (color measurement result) as a print server. 14 for output. Then, the print server 14 updates the LUT for calibration of the gradation pattern corresponding to the reading result based on the information indicating the reading result. When the print server 14 receives information indicating the reading result of the gradation pattern a plurality of times, the LUT for calibration of the gradation pattern is updated based on the average value of the information indicating the reading result.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

  For example, in the process illustrated in S105 described above, the arrangement control unit 36 determines that the total number of areas specified as areas where the reference image 22 can be arranged on the print medium 24 associated with the target print job management information is the reference number. There are areas specified as areas where the reference image 22 can be arranged for a plurality of print media 24 that are equal to or more than the number of areas associated with the print request for the image 22 and are to be output continuously. It may be confirmed whether or not the condition is satisfied. If the condition is satisfied, the arrangement control unit 36 is arranged in each area specified as an area in which the reference image 22 can be arranged on the print medium 24 associated with the target print job management information. The type of gradation pattern of the reference image 22 and the type of arrangement pattern of the reference image 22 may be assigned. Here, the type of gradation pattern of the reference image 22 and the type of arrangement pattern of the reference image 22 are assigned to each of the plurality of print media 24 to be output continuously. It may be.

  Further, for example, in the process illustrated in S105 described above, the arrangement control unit 36 can arrange the reference image 22 on the print medium 24 associated with the print job management information that has been identified as the noticed print job management information. It may be confirmed whether or not the total number of areas specified as the area has reached the number of areas associated with the print request for the reference image 22. When the condition is satisfied, the arrangement control unit 36 has an area in which the reference image 22 can be arranged in the process illustrated in S104 in the print job management information specified as the noticeable print job management information so far. For the print medium 24 associated with the specified print job management information, the gradation pattern type of the reference image 22 arranged in each area specified as the area where the reference image 22 can be arranged, and the reference image 22 You may make it allocate the kind of arrangement pattern. As described above, an area in which the reference image 22 is arranged may be determined for the print medium 24 associated with the print job management information over a plurality of print job management information.

  Further, the allocation control unit 36 assigns the type of gradation pattern of the reference image 22 to be arranged and the type of arrangement pattern of the reference image 22, and then the type of gradation pattern of the reference image 22 and the type of arrangement pattern. The number of gradation patterns of the reference image 22 and the number of print media 24 to which the type of arrangement pattern is not assigned, which are present between the first print medium 24 to which the image is assigned and the last print medium 24 are determined in advance. If the number is greater than or equal to the number, the level of the reference image 22 existing between the first print medium 24 and the last print medium 24 to which the type of gradation pattern and the type of arrangement pattern of the reference image 22 are assigned. The order of the print job management information so that the number of print media 24 to which no key pattern type and no arrangement pattern type are assigned is less than a predetermined number. It may be interchanged.

  Specifically, for example, the gradation pattern type and arrangement pattern type of the reference image 22 are assigned to the print medium 24 associated with the first print job management information, and the next print job management information is assigned. The print medium 24 associated with certain second print job management information is not assigned the gradation pattern type and arrangement pattern type of the reference image 22, and the first print job which is the next print job management information. In a situation where the gradation pattern type and the arrangement pattern type of the reference image 22 are assigned to the print medium 24 associated with the management information, the number of print media 24 associated with the second print job management information is determined in advance. When the number is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (for example, 3), the arrangement control unit 36 stores the second print job management information and the third print job management information. It may be reordered in.

  On the other hand, if the number of print media 24 associated with the second print job management information is less than a predetermined number (for example, 3) in the above situation, the arrangement control unit 36 The order of the print job management information and the third print job management information in the queue may not be changed.

  Moreover, the identification method of the area | region d1, the area | region d2, the area | region d3, and the area | region d4 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, an area surrounded by the upper side of the target image 20 and its extension line, the upper side of the print medium 24, the left side of the print medium 24, and the right side of the print medium 24 may be specified as the area d1. Further, for example, an area surrounded by the lower side of the target image 20 and its extension line, the lower side of the print medium 24, the left side of the print medium 24, and the right side of the print medium 24 may be specified as the area d2. Further, for example, an area surrounded by the left side of the target image 20 and its extension line, the left side of the print medium 24, the upper side of the print medium 24, and the lower side of the print medium 24 may be specified as the area d3. Further, an area surrounded by the right side of the target image 20 and its extension line, the right side of the print medium 24, the upper side of the print medium 24, and the lower side of the print medium 24 may be specified as the area d4.

  Further, for example, the image processing system 10 in the present embodiment may include a colorimeter that outputs information to the print server 14 instead of the scanner 16. The print server 14 may receive information indicating the result of reading the patch chart by the colorimeter and update the calibration LUT according to the information indicating the result of reading.

  Further, the division of roles of the print server 14, the printer 12, the scanner 16, and the user terminal 18 is not limited to the above example. For example, the printer 12 may include an inline sensor. Then, when the printer 12 outputs the print medium 24 on which the reference image 22 is formed, the patch chart included in the reference image 22 may be read. Then, the printer 12 may output information indicating the result of reading the patch chart to the print server 14. Then, the print server 14 may update the LUT for gradation pattern calibration based on the information indicating the read result received from the printer 12.

  Further, the print server 14 in the present embodiment may be configured from a plurality of housings. Further, the print server 14 and the printer 12 in this embodiment may be integrated. The specific character strings and numerical values described above, and the specific character strings and numerical values in the drawings are merely examples, and are not limited to these character strings and numerical values.

  10 image processing system, 12 printer, 14 print server, 16 scanner, 18 user terminal, 20 target image, 22 reference image, 24 print medium, 30 target image print request acceptance unit, 32 print job management information generation unit, 34 reference Image print request reception unit, 36 arrangement control unit, 38 print instruction output unit.

Claims (7)

A print request accepting means for accepting an image print request;
Communication for a plurality of print media to be continued output, printing can be arranged on the peripheral margin of the area where the image is formed is required, the total number of the reference image used for calibration of the printing unit or, continuous Determining means for determining whether or not the reference image can be arranged in the marginal margin for the plurality of print media based on a total of the marginal margins for a plurality of print media to be output ;
Depending on the determination of whether or not to arrange the reference image, an image to be printed and a print instruction for a plurality of print media on which the reference image is formed, or an image to be printed is formed, but the reference image Print instruction output means for outputting print instructions for a plurality of print media not formed to the printing means;
An image processing system comprising: The print request accepting unit accepts a first print request and a second print request,
The determining unit determines to arrange a part of a plurality of reference images to be arranged on a print medium on which an image requested to be printed by the first print request is formed, and the plurality of reference images Determining to place the rest of the image on a print medium on which the image is formed in response to the second print request;
The image processing system according to claim 1. The printing instruction output means includes a printing medium on which a part of the plurality of reference images is formed, a printing medium on which an image requiring printing is formed but the reference image is not formed, and the remainder of the plurality of reference images. A print instruction for outputting the print media in the order of the print media to be formed is output to the printing unit ;
The image processing system according to claim 2 . It said print instruction output unit, a print medium a portion of said plurality of reference images are formed, the print instruction the printing and print media remaining of the plurality of reference images are formed, are continuously output Output to the means ,
The image processing system according to claim 2 . In accordance with a print instruction output by the print instruction output unit, an image to be printed and a print medium on which the reference image is formed, or a print medium on which an image to be printed is formed but the reference image is not formed Printing means for outputting any one of
The image processing system according to claim 1, any one of 4, characterized in that. A print request accepting means for accepting an image print request;
Communication for a plurality of print media to be continued output, printing can be arranged on the peripheral margin of the area where the image is formed is required, the total number of the reference image used for calibration of the printing unit or, continuous Determining means for determining whether or not the reference image can be arranged in the marginal margin for the plurality of print media based on a total of the marginal margins for a plurality of print media to be output ;
Depending on the determination of whether or not to arrange the reference image, an image to be printed and a print instruction for a plurality of print media on which the reference image is formed, or an image to be printed is formed, but the reference image Print instruction output means for outputting print instructions for a plurality of print media not formed to the printing means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A print request accepting means for accepting an image print request;
Communication for a plurality of print media to be continued output, printing can be arranged on the peripheral margin of the area where the image is formed is required, the total number of the reference image used for calibration of the printing unit or, continuous Determining means for determining whether or not the reference image can be arranged in the marginal margin of the plurality of print media based on a total of the marginal margins of the plurality of print media to be output ;
Depending on the determination of whether or not to arrange the reference image, an image to be printed and a print instruction for a plurality of print media on which the reference image is formed, or an image to be printed is formed, but the reference image Print instruction output means for outputting print instructions for a plurality of print media not formed to the printing means,
A program characterized by causing a computer to function.

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