Printer driver, color transform method, recording medium, and color image forming system

• US 20040001229A1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Hanyu, Hitomi
• Application Number:
  US10/464,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40062 Discrimination between different image types, e.g. two-tone, continuous tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6072 adapting to different types of images, e.g. characters, graphs, black and white image portions

Abstract

A data analysis part sorts input image data into picture image data for a picture image and non-picture image data for a non-picture image; an adjustment part performs first color transform on the picture image data and performs second color transform on the non-picture image data; and an image forming part prints out a color image based on the image data output from the adjustment part onto a sheet-like recording medium.

Claims

1. A printer driver installed in a computer for providing image data to a printer after performing color transform thereon for printing out the same on a sheet-like recording medium, comprising:

a data analysis part which sorts input image data into picture image data for a picture image and non-picture image data for a non-picture image; and

an adjustment part which performs first color transform on the picture image data and performs either the first color transform or second color transform on the non-picture image data.

2. The printer driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said adjustment part comprises a color adjustment part which performs the first color transform, a specific-color adjustment part which performs the second color transform, and a path switching part which controls a destination of the input image data either toward said color adjustment part or toward said specific-color adjustment part according to a predetermined instruction.

3. The printer driver as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a color adjustment direction part for making color adjustment direction for the non-picture image data,

wherein:

upon receiving a predetermined direction from said color adjustment direction part, said path switching part controls the destination of the picture image data directed toward said color adjustment part and the destination of the non-picture image data directed toward said specific-color adjustment part.

4. The printer driver as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said computer has a monitoring screen for displaying an image according to given image data; and

said printer driver further comprises a display part which extracts sample image data indicating a plurality of different colors from the non-picture image data, and comparatively displays on said monitoring screen a plurality of sample images corresponding to the sample image data before and after undergoing the second color transform.

5. The printer driver as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a color altering part for altering the sample image data indicating the plurality of sample colors after undergoing the second color transform displayed on the monitoring screen,

wherein:

said specific-color adjustment part 804 performs the second color transform on the non-picture image data based on the sample image data altered by said color altering part.

6. The printer driver as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said specific-color adjustment part has a color transform table data storage part storing parameters for performing the second color transform on the non-picture image data as a look-up table, and corrects said look-up table based on the sample image data altered by said color altering part.

7. The printer driver as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the look-up table stored in said color transform table data storage part is editable with an operation of a predetermined operation item.

8. A color transform method for causing a computer which provides image data to a printer after performing color transform thereon for printing out the same on a sheet-like recording medium, to perform:

a sorting step of sorting input image data into picture image data for a picture image and non-picture image data for a non-picture image; and

a color transform step of performing first color transform on the picture image data and performs either the first transform or second color transform on the non-picture image data.

9. The color transform method as clamed in claim 8, further comprising a path switching step controlling a destination of the input image data either to a color adjustment process in which the first color transform is performed or to a specific-color adjustment process in which the second color transform is performed.

10. The color transform method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a display step of extracting sample image data indicating a plurality of different colors from the non-picture image data, and displaying on a monitoring screen a plurality of sample images corresponding to the sample image data before and after undergoing the second color transform;

a color altering step of altering the sample image data indicating the plurality of sample colors after undergoing the second color transform displayed on the monitoring screen; and

a parameter modifying step of modifying parameters for performing the second color transform on the non-picture image based on the sample image data altered in said color altering step.

11. An information recording medium storing a color transform program therein which causes a-computer which provides image data to a printer after performing color transform thereon for printing out the same on a sheet-like recording medium, to perform as:

a sorting part which sorts input image data into picture image data for a picture image and non-picture image data for a non-picture image; and

a color transform part which performs first color transform on the picture image data, and performs either the first color transform or second color transform on the non-picture image data according to whether or not a color adjustment direction is made.

12. An information recording medium storing a color transform program therein which causes a computer which provides image data to a printer after performing color transform thereon for printing out the same on a sheet-like recording medium, to perform as:

a sorting part which sorts input image data into picture image data for a picture image and non-picture image data for a non-picture image;

a color transform part which performs first color transform on the picture image data, and performs either the first color transform or second color transform on the non-picture image data according to whether or not a color adjustment direction is made;

a color altering part which extracts sample image data indicating a plurality of different colors from the non-picture image data, displays on a monitoring screen a plurality of sample images corresponding to the sample image data before and after undergoing the second color transform comparatively, and alters the sample image data indicating the plurality of sample colors after undergoing the second color transform displayed on the monitoring screen; and

a parameter modifying part for modifying parameter for performing the second color transform on the non-picture image data based on the sample image data altered by said color altering part.

13. A color image forming system for printing out a color image displayed on a monitoring screen onto a sheet-like recording medium, comprising:

a data analysis part which sorts input image data into picture image data for a picture image and non-picture image data for a non-picture image;

an adjustment part which performs first color transform on the picture image data and performs either the first color transform or second color transform on the non-picture image data; and

an image forming part which prints out a color image based on the image data output from said adjustment part onto a sheet-like recording medium.