JP7679648B2 - Color Gamut Determination System, Color Gamut Determination Method, and Program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a color gamut determination system, a color gamut determination method, and a program.

Various technologies have been proposed for checking the color tone of a printed matter from a remote location. For example, a technology has been proposed that allows the color tone of a printed matter to be checked from a remote location by capturing an image of the printed matter and displaying the image on a display device in the remote location.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a printout and a sample of the printout are photographed at a printing factory, and each of the obtained images is sent from a device at the printing factory to a device at a remote location. The image of the printout and the image of the sample received from the device at the printing factory are displayed on the device at the remote location. This allows an observer (verifier) at the remote location to check the image of the printout and the image of the sample displayed on the device at the remote location, and thus to check the color tone of the printout and give adjustment instructions without having to go to the printing site.

JP 2018-176546 A

However, the range of colors (color gamut) that can be displayed on a printed matter may differ from the range of colors (color gamut) that can be displayed on a display device. For example, suppose that among the colors displayed on a printed matter, there is a color that is outside the range of colors that can be displayed on a display device. In this case, when an image of the printed matter is displayed on a display device, as in the technology of Patent Document 1, the colors of the printed matter that are outside the range of colors that can be displayed on the display device are not displayed accurately, and the colors displayed on the actual printed matter differ from the colors of the image of the printed matter displayed on the display device. This can lead to a discrepancy in the perception of the colors of the printed matter between the person requesting the color tone confirmation and the person confirming it, which can affect subsequent work.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a color gamut determination system, a color gamut determination method, and a program that can reduce the possibility of discrepancies in color perception between the person requesting the color confirmation of a printed matter and the person confirming the color tone.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a color gamut determination system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material, a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a color adjustment colorimetric value set, which is a set of possible values of the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color, by calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates the adjustment range of the solid color, and a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a color adjustment colorimetric value set, which is a set of possible values of the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color, based on approximate color information that indicates the correspondence between the colorimetric values and the blending ratios of the inks. calculating ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating a correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating all combinations of values that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the concentration adjustment range based on concentration range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink concentration and the calculated spectral reflectance, thereby a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of values that the colorimetric value that varies when the density is adjusted within a density adjustment range can take; a platemaking image acquisition unit that reads and acquires the platemaking image corresponding to information on the platemaking image of the printed matter input by a user; and a colorimetric value prediction unit that predicts the colorimetric value of a printing color at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit as a primary color based on gradation characteristic information that indicates a correspondence relationship between the ink and gradation characteristics. the color gamut determination unit determines whether each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of the output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color gamut values included in the color gamut of the output device; and the color gamut determination information generation unit generates color gamut determination information indicating whether each of the predicted values is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit.
A color gamut determination system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter, a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of possible values of the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color by calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates an adjustment range of the solid color, and a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit based on approximate color information that indicates a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values and the blending ratios of the inks. The ink blending ratio corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the output color adjustment colorimetric value set is calculated, and the absorption and scattering coefficients of a spot color are calculated for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between the inks and the absorption and scattering coefficients. The absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color are used to calculate the spectral reflectance of the spot color. Based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance, all combinations of values that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range are calculated, thereby calculating changes that occur when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range. a halftone dot multiplication generating unit that generates a halftone dot multiplication set that is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors indicated by the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculating unit in a halftone dot of a printed matter; and a halftone dot multiplication generating unit that generates a halftone dot multiplication set that is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors indicated by the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculating unit in a halftone dot of a printed matter, based on gradation characteristic information indicating gradation characteristics of primary color inks, thereby predicting the colorimetric values of printed colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generating unit is reproduced on the printed matter, based on gradation characteristic information indicating gradation characteristics of primary color inks, thereby obtaining a colorimetric value from the predicted value of each color. a color gamut determination unit that determines whether each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of the output device based on a color profile indicating colorimetric values included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, and a color gamut determination information generation unit that generates color gamut determination information indicating whether the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit.

A color gamut determination method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of a colorimetric value acquisition unit acquiring colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter, a step of a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information indicating the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take, and a step of a density adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between the colorimetric values and the blending ratios of the inks. calculating a blending ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit, calculating an absorption/scattering coefficient of a spot color for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption/scattering coefficient information indicating a correspondence relationship between the ink and the absorption/scattering coefficient, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption/scattering coefficient of the spot color, and calculating all combinations of values that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the concentration adjustment range based on concentration range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink concentration and the calculated spectral reflectance, thereby a step of a platemaking image acquisition unit reading and acquiring the platemaking image corresponding to information on the platemaking image of the printed matter input by a user; and a print color prediction unit predicting the colorimetric values of the print colors at each pixel of the printed matter printed using the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit as primary colors and the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit based on gradation characteristic information indicating the correspondence between the ink and gradation characteristics. the process includes a step of generating a print color set, which is a set of predicted colorimetric values at each pixel, by using a color profile indicating colorimetric values included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter , a step of a color gamut determination unit determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of the output device; and a step of a color gamut determination information generation unit generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not each of the predicted values is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which they are included, based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit.
A color gamut determination method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of a colorimetric value acquisition unit acquiring colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter, a step of a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information indicating the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take, and a step of a density adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take based on approximate color information indicating a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values and the blending ratios of the inks. a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a blending ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit; a spot color absorption/scattering coefficient for each of the calculated blending ratios is calculated based on absorption/scattering coefficient information indicating a correspondence between the inks and the absorption/scattering coefficients; a spectral reflectance of the spot color is calculated using the calculated absorption/scattering coefficients of the spot color; and a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates all combinations of values that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the concentration adjustment range based on concentration range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink concentration and the calculated spectral reflectance. a step of calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values that the colorimetric value that varies when the density is adjusted can take; a step of a halftone dot multiplication generating unit generating a halftone dot multiplication set which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors indicated by the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculating unit in a halftone dot of a printed matter; and a print color prediction unit predicting the colorimetric values of print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generating unit is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating the gradation characteristics of primary color inks. the process of generating a print color set, which is a set of predicted values of each color, a process in which a color gamut determination unit determines whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of the output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating colorimetric values included in the color gamut of the output device; and a process in which a color gamut determination information generation unit generates color gamut determination information indicating whether or not the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included, based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit.

A program according to one aspect of the present invention includes a computer, a colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter, a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set which is a set of possible values of the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color by calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates the adjustment range of the solid color, and a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set which is a set of possible values of the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color based on approximate color information that indicates the correspondence between the colorimetric values and the blending ratios of the inks. a mixing ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the calculation means; an absorption/scattering coefficient of a spot color is calculated for each of the calculated mixing ratios based on absorption/scattering coefficient information indicating a correspondence relationship between the ink and the absorption/scattering coefficient; a spectral reflectance of the spot color is calculated using the calculated absorption/scattering coefficient of the spot color; and all combinations of values that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the concentration adjustment range are calculated based on concentration range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink concentration and the calculated spectral reflectance, thereby the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means for calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of possible values for the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the density is adjusted; a platemaking image acquisition means for reading and acquiring the platemaking image corresponding to the platemaking image information of the printed matter input by a user; a print color prediction means for generating a print color set which is a set of predicted values of the colorimetric values at each pixel of a printed matter to be printed using the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition means as primary colors and the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means, based on gradation characteristic information indicating the correspondence between the ink and the gradation characteristics; a gamut determination means for determining whether each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction means is included in the gamut of the output device that outputs the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating the colorimetric values included in the gamut of the output device; and a gamut determination information generation means for generating gamut determination information indicating whether each of the predicted values is included in the gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included, based on the result of the determination by the gamut determination means.
Further, a program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to include: a colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating, based on color range information indicating an adjustment range of the solid color, all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take within the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take; and a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating, based on approximate color information indicating a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values and the blending ratios of inks, a mixing ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the above steps is calculated, an absorption/scattering coefficient of a spot color is calculated for each of the calculated mixing ratios based on absorption/scattering coefficient information indicating a correspondence relationship between the ink and the absorption/scattering coefficient, a spectral reflectance of the spot color is calculated using the calculated absorption/scattering coefficient of the spot color, and the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range by calculating all combinations of values that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance. a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means for calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of possible values of the colorimetric values which vary when the density-adjusted colorimetric value set is calculated; a halftone dot multiplication generation means for generating a halftone dot multiplication set which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors represented by the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means in a halftone dot of a printed matter; and a prediction of each color by predicting the colorimetric value of a printed matter when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation means is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information which indicates the gradation characteristics of primary color inks. the color gamut determination means for determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction means is included in the color gamut of the output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating colorimetric values included in the color gamut of the output device; and the color gamut determination information generation means for generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included, based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determination means.

The present invention can reduce the possibility of discrepancies in color perception between the person requesting the color check of a printed matter and the person checking it.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to a first embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of calculation of color adjustment colorimetric values according to the first embodiment. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of calculation of density-adjusted colorimetric values according to the first embodiment; 5 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the color gamut determination system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to a second embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of halftone dot multiplication and print colors according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in a color gamut determination system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to a third embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a plate making image and a color measurement value image according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the third embodiment. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in a color gamut determination system according to a third embodiment.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

<<1. First embodiment>>
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

<1-1. Configuration of color gamut determination system>
An example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment.

The color gamut determination system 10 is a system that determines whether the colors expressed in a printed matter are included in a color gamut that indicates the range of colors that can be expressed by an output device such as a monitor or printer. In other words, the color gamut determination system 10 determines whether the colors expressed in a printed matter can be expressed without discrepancies by the output device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color gamut determination system 10 includes an input unit 101, a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121, a color gamut determination unit 131, a color gamut determination information generation unit 141, an output unit 151, a color/density range database 161, an approximate color database 162, an absorption/scattering coefficient database 163, and an output device color characteristic database 164.

(1) Input unit 101
The input unit 101 has a function of accepting various inputs. A user (e.g., a person requesting color tone confirmation) inputs designation information for designating the color of ink to be used in printing a printed matter via the input unit 101. The input unit 101 accepts the input of the designation information input by the user.
As an example, the user specifies a solid color by inputting specification information to the input unit 101. The specification information is, for example, information indicating a solid color. Specifically, the user inputs, to the input unit 101, an identification number (color number) of a color indicated by a color chip as the specification information.
It should be noted that the user does not need to use the input unit 101 to specify a solid color. Specifying a solid color by the user includes not only the act of inputting specification information into the input unit 101 but also the act of selecting a solid color. For example, this includes the selection of a color chip that indicates the target solid color, the selection of a printed matter in which the target solid color is expressed, the selection of an ink for the target solid color, and the like.

The user may also input colorimetric values of solid colors as designation information to the input unit 101. For example, the user measures the colorimetric values of the solid colors he or she wishes to designate with a colorimeter and inputs the measured colorimetric values to the input unit 101. The user may also measure the colorimetric values of solid colors that he or she may designate in advance, input the measured colorimetric values to the input unit 101, and store them in a database (not shown). If the color gamut determination system 10 is configured to be able to communicate with a colorimeter, the color gamut determination system 10 may obtain colorimetric values by communicating with the colorimeter. In this case, the user does not need to input colorimetric values to the input unit 101.
Hereinafter, colorimetric values in this embodiment are, for example, in the CIE L*a*b* color space, and color values are represented by L*, a*, and b*.

(2) Colorimetric value acquisition unit 111
The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 has a function of acquiring colorimetric values. For example, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values of a solid color of ink used in printing a printed matter. Specifically, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values of a solid color specified by a user.
When specification information specifying a solid color is input to the input unit 101, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric value of the solid color indicated by the input specification information. For example, when a database in which the colorimetric values of each solid color are stored is prepared, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric value corresponding to the specified solid color from the database. Furthermore, when the colorimetric value of the solid color specified by the user is measured with a colorimeter, the colorimetric value may be acquired from the input unit 101 or the colorimeter.

(3) Fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121
The variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 has a function of calculating the varying colorimetric values. For example, the variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 calculates a variation colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values that the colorimetric value of a solid color can take due to the variation, based on the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 and variation information related to the variation of the colorimetric values.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 includes a color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 and a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 in order to realize this function.

(3-1) Color Adjustment Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 122
The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 has a function of calculating colorimetric values that vary as a result of adjusting a solid color. For example, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates colorimetric values after adjustment of a color based on the variation information and the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111. When multiple colorimetric values of the adjusted color are calculated, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates a color-adjusted colorimetric value set that is a set of multiple colorimetric values after the color adjustment.

The variation information used by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 to calculate the colorimetric values is, for example, color range information. Color range information is information that indicates the color adjustment range. Color range information is stored in the color and density range database 161. For example, color range information indicates the adjustable range of colorimetric values in the colorimetric value area (area where the ranges of the L*, a*, and b* values are determined). As an example, the adjustable range of L* is shown to be -3 to +3, the adjustable range of a* is shown to be -5 to +5, and the adjustable range of b* is shown to be -5 to +5.

Based on the colorimetric values and color range information, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates the colorimetric value of a solid color after the color has been adjusted to a value within the adjustment range of the color indicated by the color range information. When multiple adjustment directions and adjustment amounts for each of the L*, a*, and b* values are set as in the above example, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates colorimetric values for all combinations after adjustment by adjusting the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 with all combinations of the L*, a*, and b* values indicated by the color range information. As a result, multiple adjusted colorimetric values are calculated, and the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 can calculate a color-adjusted colorimetric value set that is a set that includes all the calculated colorimetric values.

Now, with reference to FIG. 2, an example of calculation of color-adjusted colorimetric values will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of color-adjusted colorimetric values according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, an example will be described in which a user selects a color chip that indicates a target solid color.

First, assume that the user selects color chip 20A with color number 0011 (hereinafter also referred to as "chip 0011") and color chip 20B with color number 0034 (hereinafter also referred to as "chip 0034"), and specifies the colors indicated by these color chips as solid colors.
The user measures the colorimetric values of chip 0011 and chip 0034. As a result of the measurement, it is assumed that a colorimetric value Lab1 of chip 0011 and a colorimetric value Lab2 of chip 0034 are obtained. The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric values Lab1 and Lab2.
The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates color-adjusted colorimetric values based on the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 and the color adjustment ranges stored in the color and density range database 161. The adjustment ranges of L*, a*, and b* are -3 to +3, -5 to +5, and -5 to +5, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2. The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 adjusts the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 using all combinations of values that each of these L*, a*, and b* values can take within the adjustment ranges. The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 then calculates the adjusted colorimetric values as color-adjusted colorimetric values.
Hereinafter, the color-adjusted colorimetric values of chip 0011 are indicated by color-adjusted colorimetric values Lab1_1 and Lab1_2. Also, the color-adjusted colorimetric values of chip 0034 are indicated by color-adjusted colorimetric values Lab2_1 and Lab2_2. Note that the number of color-adjusted colorimetric values calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculator 122 is not limited to this example, and the number of color-adjusted colorimetric values calculated may be the same as the number of all combinations of values that each of the L*, a*, and b* values can take within the adjustment range.

(3-2) Density Adjusted Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 123
The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 has a function of calculating colorimetric values that vary as a result of adjusting the density of a solid color. For example, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates colorimetric values after density adjustment based on the variation information and the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122. When multiple colorimetric values after density adjustment are calculated, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set that is a set of multiple colorimetric values after density adjustment. Note that in this embodiment, the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is a variation colorimetric value set.

The variation information used by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 to calculate the colorimetric value is, for example, density range information, approximate color information, and absorption/scattering coefficient information. The density range information is information indicating the adjustment range of density. The density range information is stored in the color/density range database 161. The approximate color information is information indicating the correspondence between the colorimetric value and the ink blending ratio. The approximate color information is stored in the approximate color database 162. The absorption/scattering coefficient information is information indicating the correspondence between the ink and the absorption/scattering coefficient. The absorption/scattering coefficient information is stored in the absorption/scattering coefficient database 163.

The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates the colorimetric values of the print colors when printed at the adjusted density based on the color-adjusted colorimetric value set, the density range information, the approximate color information, and the absorption/scattering coefficient information.
First, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 obtains the blending ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set, and calculates the absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color. The blending ratio is obtained from the approximate color information stored in the approximate color database 162. The absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color can be calculated based on the absorption and scattering coefficients of the primary color inks stored in the absorption and scattering coefficient database 163. Next, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates the spectral reflectance of the spot color by changing the film thickness of the Kubelka-Munk formula using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color. Then, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates the colorimetric value after density adjustment based on the calculated spectral reflectance.
When multiple density adjustment directions and adjustment amounts are set by the density range information, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates all adjusted colorimetric values for each possible density of the spot color. As a result, multiple adjusted colorimetric values are calculated, so that the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 can calculate a density-adjusted colorimetric value set that is a set including all the calculated colorimetric values.

The process in which the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 determines the ink blending ratio, calculates the absorption and scattering coefficients of the special colors, calculates the spectral reflectance of the special colors, and calculates the colorimetric values from the spectral reflectance of the special colors is specifically described in paragraphs 0043 to 0060 of Japanese Patent No. 6623679.

Now, referring to FIG. 3, an example of the calculation of the density-adjusted colorimetric value will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the calculation of the density-adjusted colorimetric value according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, an example will be described in which the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates the density-adjusted colorimetric value based on the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 in the example shown in FIG. 2. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 3, a part of the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 is the subject of the description. For example, in FIG. 3, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates the density-adjusted colorimetric values of the color-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1 and the color-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_2 of chip 0011 and the color-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1 and the color-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2 of chip 0034, which are calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122.

The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates all density-adjusted colorimetric values after adjustment to each possible density of each color-adjusted colorimetric value, indicated by the density range information in the color/density range database 161, for the four color-adjusted colorimetric values shown in Fig. 3. Specifically, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 obtains the blending ratio of inks corresponding to each color-adjusted colorimetric value from the approximate color information in the approximate color database 162, and calculates the absorption/scattering coefficients of the special colors based on the absorption/scattering coefficients of the primary color inks in the absorption/scattering coefficient database 163. Next, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 uses the calculated absorption/scattering coefficients of the special colors to change the film thickness of the Kubelka-Munk formula, and calculates the spectral reflectance after the density adjustment. The colorimetric value after the density adjustment is calculated based on the calculated spectral reflectance.
Hereinafter, the density-adjusted colorimetric values of chip 0011 are indicated as density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+, density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1, density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1-, and density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_2+. Also, the density-adjusted colorimetric values of chip 0034 are indicated as density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1+, density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1, density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1-, and density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+. A "+" added to the name of a density-adjusted colorimetric value indicates that the density has been adjusted to be darker (density +). A "-" added to the name of a density-adjusted colorimetric value indicates that the density has been adjusted to be lighter (density -). A density-adjusted colorimetric value to which neither a "+" nor a "-" is added to the name of a density-adjusted colorimetric value indicates that the density is the standard density (standard density). The number of density-adjusted colorimetric values calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is not limited to this example, and the number of densities that each color-adjusted colorimetric value can have within the density adjustment range can be calculated.

(4) Color Gamut Determining Unit 131
The color gamut determination unit 131 has a function of determining whether or not the colorimetric values fluctuated by the color adjustment and density adjustment can be reproduced by an output device that outputs a printed matter. For example, the color gamut determination unit 131 has a function of determining whether or not each colorimetric value included in the fluctuating colorimetric value set calculated by the fluctuating colorimetric value calculation unit 121 is included in the color gamut of the output device.

Specifically, the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the variable colorimetric value set calculated by the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 and the color profile of the output device. The color profile is information that indicates the color characteristics of the output device. The color profile is stored in the output device color characteristic database 164. The color profile includes a color gamut information table. The color gamut information table is a table that describes whether or not a colorimetric value divided into a predetermined interval is included in the color gamut of the output device. The color gamut determination unit 131 refers to the color gamut information table and determines whether or not each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device.

The color gamut determination unit 131 may also use the above-mentioned color profile to calculate device values (e.g., RGB values) for outputting the colorimetric values to be determined to an output device, and obtain the color difference before and after conversion (color difference due to round trip) when the device values are converted back into colorimetric values using the color profile, and determine that the color difference is outside the color gamut if it exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

(5) Color gamut determination information generation unit 141
The color gamut judgment information generating unit 141 has a function of generating color gamut judgment information. The color gamut judgment information is information indicating the relationship between colorimetric values and the color gamut of the output device. For example, the color gamut judgment information generating unit 141 generates color gamut judgment information based on the result of judgment by the color gamut judgment unit 131. Specifically, the color gamut judgment information generating unit 141 generates information indicating whether or not each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut, or the degree to which it is included, as color gamut judgment information.

The information indicating whether each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut is, for example, output capability information. The output capability information is information indicating whether the output device is capable of outputting a color corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set. When the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the output capability information as color gamut determination information.

The information indicating the degree to which each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut is, for example, color difference information. The color difference information is information indicating the color difference between the color corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set and the colors that the output device can output. When the color gamut determination unit 131 calculates the color difference before and after conversion of the colorimetric value based on the color profile, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the color difference information as color gamut determination information.

Now, an example of color gamut determination information will be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the first embodiment. Fig. 4 shows output availability information, and Fig. 5 shows color difference information. Note that Figs. 4 and 5 show the determination results based on the density-adjusted colorimetric values calculated in Fig. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the output availability information for chip 0011 is indicated by "◯" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1-, and "X" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_2+. Also, the output availability information for chip 0034 is indicated by "◯" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1+, the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1, and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1-, and "X" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+. The "◯" in FIG. 4 indicates that the density-adjusted colorimetric value is within the color gamut of the output device, and that the output device can output (reproduce) the color corresponding to the density-adjusted colorimetric value. On the other hand, the "X" in FIG. 4 indicates that the density-adjusted colorimetric value is outside the color gamut of the output device, and that the output device cannot output (reproduce) the color corresponding to the density-adjusted colorimetric value.

As shown in FIG. 5, the color difference information for chip 0011 shows "3.4" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+, "0.0" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1, "0.0" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1-, and "1.2" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_2+. Also, the color difference information for chip 0034 shows "0.0" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1+, "0.0" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1, "0.0" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1-, and "4.8" for the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+. When the color difference shown in FIG. 5 is "0.0", it indicates that there is no color difference before and after conversion of the colorimetric value based on the color profile. On the other hand, if the color difference shown in Figure 5 is other than "0.0", it indicates that there is a color difference before and after conversion of the color measurement value based on the color profile.

(6) Output unit 151
The output unit 151 has a function of outputting various information. For example, the output unit 151 outputs the color gamut judgment information generated by the color gamut judgment information generation unit 141. The function of the output unit 151 is realized by an output device such as a monitor or a printer. When the output device is a monitor, the output unit 151 causes the monitor to display the color gamut judgment information. When the output device is a printer, the output unit 151 may cause the printer to print the color gamut judgment information.

(7) Color and Density Range Database 161
The color/density range database 161 has a function of storing color range information and density range information. The color range information and density range information used in this embodiment may be information stored in advance in the color/density range database, or may be information specified by a specification or the like. When the color range information and density range information are specified by a specification or the like, they are input to the input unit 101 by, for example, a user. In this case, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 respectively acquire the color range information and density range information input to the input unit 101 and use them in various calculation processes.

(8) Approximate Color Database 162
The approximate color database 162 has a function of storing approximate color information. The approximate color database 162 stores in advance the color measurement values of spot color inks and the mixture ratios of primary colors for multiple types of spot color inks (reference spot color inks) that have different combinations of blended primary color inks.

(9) Absorption and scattering coefficient database 163
The absorption/scattering coefficient database 163 has a function of storing absorption/scattering coefficient information. In the absorption/scattering coefficient database 163, the absorption coefficient K(λ) and scattering coefficient S(λ) of each primary color ink are written and stored in advance by an external computer or the like.

(10) Output device color characteristic database 164
The output device color characteristic database 164 has a function of storing color profiles. The output device color characteristic database 164 stores in advance the color profiles of output devices that are used by a person checking the color tones of a printed matter to check the color tones of the printed matter.

<1-2. Processing flow>
An example of the configuration of the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment has been described above. Next, an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, the user specifies the solid color of ink to be used in printing the printed matter (step S101). Depending on the method for specifying the solid color, the user measures the colorimetric value of the solid color with a colorimeter or inputs the colorimetric value into the input unit 101.

Next, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric value of the solid color specified by the user (step S102). Depending on how the user specifies the solid color, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric value from a colorimeter, acquires the colorimetric value from the input unit 101, or acquires the colorimetric value from a database.

Next, the variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 calculates a set of variation colorimetric values.
First, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates color-adjusted colorimetric values based on the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 and the color range information, which is the variation information (step S103). When multiple color-adjusted colorimetric values are calculated, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates a set of color-adjusted colorimetric values.
The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates density-adjusted colorimetric values based on the color-adjusted colorimetric values (color-adjusted colorimetric value set) calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122, the density range information, which is the variation information, the approximate color information, and the absorption/diffusion coefficient information (step S104). When multiple density-adjusted colorimetric values are calculated, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set.

Next, the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value indicated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value (density-adjusted colorimetric value set) is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the density-adjusted colorimetric value (density-adjusted colorimetric value set) calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 and the color profile of the output device (step S105).

Next, the color gamut determination information generating unit 141 generates color gamut determination information based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit 131 (step S106).
Next, the output unit 151 displays the color gamut judgment information generated by the color gamut judgment information generation unit 141 (step S107).

As described above, the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment includes the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 , the fluctuating colorimetric value calculation unit 121 , the color gamut determination unit 131 , and the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 .
The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material.
The variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 calculates a variation colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values that a solid color colorimetric value can take due to variation, based on the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 and variation information regarding the variation of the colorimetric values.
The color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the variable colorimetric value set calculated by the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 and the color profile of the output device that outputs the printed matter.
The color gamut determination information generating unit 141 generates color gamut determination information indicating the relationship between the color measurement values and the color gamut based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit 131 .

With this configuration, a requester (user) of a color tone check of a printed matter can check whether each color that can be expressed by the ink used to print the printed matter to be checked can be reproduced on the checker's output device by checking the color gamut determination information generated by the color gamut determination system 10. This allows the requester to take measures based on the determination result so that there is no discrepancy between the checker and the checker in terms of color tone recognition. For example, the requester can print the printed matter without using a color that is determined to be unable to be reproduced on the checker's output device, adjust the color or density so that it is included in the color gamut of the checker's output device, or change the output method on the checker's side (for example, change from output by monitor to output by printer). Also, based on this determination result, color proofing using a conventional color sample (proof print) may be performed without performing color confirmation at a remote location.

Therefore, the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment makes it possible to reduce the possibility of discrepancies in color perception between the person requesting the color confirmation of a printed matter and the person confirming the color tone.

<<2. Second embodiment>>
Having described the first embodiment of the present invention, a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs.
In the above-described first embodiment, an example was described in which it was determined whether or not each colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is included in the color gamut of the output device. In the second embodiment, an example is described in which it is determined whether or not the colorimetric value of a printed color obtained by multiplying each color indicated by the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device when the color is actually reproduced on a printed material.
Note that descriptions that overlap with the first embodiment will be omitted.

2-1. Configuration of color gamut determination system
An example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the color gamut determination system 10A includes an input unit 101, a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121, a color gamut determination unit 131, a color gamut determination information generation unit 141, an output unit 151, a color/density range database 161, an approximate color database 162, an absorption/scattering coefficient database 163, an output device color characteristic database 164, and a gradation characteristic table database 165.

(1) Input unit 101
The functions of the input unit 101 according to the second embodiment are similar to the functions of the input unit 101 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore will not be described.

(2) Colorimetric value acquisition unit 111
The function of the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(3) Fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121
The variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the second embodiment has a function of calculating variable colorimetric values, similar to the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the second embodiment has a function of generating an arbitrary halftone dot multiplication based on the calculated variable colorimetric value set, and a function of predicting the colorimetric values of printed colors when each color indicated by the halftone dot multiplication is actually reproduced on a printed matter.
As shown in FIG. 7, the fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 includes a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122, a density adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 123, a halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124, and a print color prediction unit 125 in order to realize this function.

(3-1) Color Adjustment Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 122
The function of the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(3-2) Density Adjusted Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 123
The function of the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(3-3) Halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124
The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 has a function of generating halftone dot multiplications. Halftone dot multiplications are information indicating a combination of command dot area rates for printing. For example, the halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 generates all combinations of 10% increments of each plate used for printing as halftone dot multiplications. The halftone dot multiplications may be calculated by the halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 as described above, or may be predetermined halftone dot multiplication data. When the halftone dot multiplications are predetermined data, the halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 may, for example, read and acquire the data from a database, or may acquire data provided by a user via the input unit 101. When multiple halftone dot multiplications are generated, the halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 generates a halftone dot multiplication set that is a set of multiple halftone dot multiplications.

The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 may generate halftone dot multiplication by combining set values at regular intervals for all plates (ink colors) used in printing (for example, all combinations of CMYK + two spot colors in 20% increments). The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 may also generate halftone dot multiplication by multiplying spot colors and by multiplying spot colors and processes. The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 may also use halftone dot multiplications stored in advance in a database for each number of colors.

(3-4) Print color prediction unit 125
The print color prediction unit 125 has a function of predicting the colorimetric values of the print colors when each multiplication indicated by the halftone dot multiplication is actually reproduced on a printed matter. The colorimetric values predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 are also referred to as "predicted values" below. For example, the print color prediction unit 125 calculates predicted values corresponding to each multiplication indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set based on the variation information and the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124. When multiple predicted values are calculated, the print color prediction unit 125 generates a print color set that is a set of the multiple calculated predicted values. Note that in this embodiment, the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 is a variation colorimetric value set.

The information used by the print color prediction unit 125 to calculate the predicted value is, for example, tone characteristic information. The tone characteristic information is information that indicates the correspondence between the setting value (command dot area ratio) and the tone characteristic. The tone characteristic information is stored in the tone characteristic table database 165.

The print color prediction unit 125 predicts (calculates predicted values) the colorimetric values of the print colors for all the multiplications indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124 based on the tone characteristic information.
Specifically, the print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric values of the print colors for all multiplications included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124 for all combinations in which one value is selected from the density-adjusted colorimetric value set of each plate used for printing.

The process in which the print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric values of the print colors is specifically described in paragraphs 0061 to 0094 of Japanese Patent No. 6623679.

Here, an example of halftone dot multiplication and print color will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of halftone dot multiplication and print color according to the second embodiment.

The halftone dot multiplication 30 shown in Figure 8 is an example of the multiplication and print color when two plates are multiplied and all combinations are made in 20% increments. For example, if the solid colors of the ink corresponding to the two plates are the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of chip 0034 among the density-adjusted colorimetric values shown in Figure 3, the color corresponding to the multiplication of cell 31A, for example, among the multiplications shown by the halftone dot multiplication 30, is the color obtained by multiplying the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of 100% with the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of 0%, that is, the color of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ itself. For example, the color of cell 31B is the color obtained by multiplying the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of 0% by the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of 100%, that is, the color of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ itself. For example, the color of cell 31C is the color when the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ are each set as solid colorimetric values, and the former is printed with a dot area rate of 60% and the latter with a dot area rate of 40%. The print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric value of the print color when the color of each cell (multiplication) of the halftone dot multiplication 30 shown in FIG. 8 is printed.

(4) Color Gamut Determining Unit 131
The function of the color gamut determining unit 131 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the color gamut determining unit 131 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted.
The color gamut determination unit 131 according to the second embodiment determines whether or not the predicted values predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 can be reproduced by an output device that outputs a printed matter. Note that the color gamut determination unit 131 performs the determination for all predicted values included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125.

(5) Color gamut determination information generation unit 141
The function of the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the first embodiment described with reference to Figure 1, so duplicated explanations will be omitted.
The color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the second embodiment generates information indicating whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included, as color gamut determination information.

The information indicating whether each predicted value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device is, for example, an output feasibility image. The output feasibility image is an image in which information indicating whether the output device can output the print color predicted for the image multiplication is added to the image indicating all multiplications indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set. When the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each predicted value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the output feasibility image as color gamut determination information. As an example, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 adds information indicating whether output is possible to each cell indicated by each halftone dot multiplication included in the halftone dot multiplication set.

The information indicating the degree to which each predicted value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device is, for example, statistical information. The statistical information is information that statistically indicates whether or not the output device is capable of outputting all colors indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set. When the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the statistical information as color gamut determination information. As an example, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates information indicating the proportion of colors included in the color gamut of the output device among the print colors predicted for each halftone dot multiplication as statistical information.

Now, an example of the color gamut determination information will be described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing an example of the color gamut determination information according to the second embodiment. Fig. 9 shows an output possibility image, and Fig. 10 shows statistical information.

The output possibility image 40 shown in Fig. 9 shows whether output is possible for multiplication when the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of chip 0034 are set as solid colors among the density-adjusted colorimetric values shown in Fig. 3. In the output possibility image 40, an object is superimposed on a cell showing a color that cannot be output, and the object is not superimposed on a cell showing a color that can be output. For example, an object 42A is superimposed on cell 41A, and an object 42B is superimposed on cell 41B. That is, the colors of cell 41A and cell 41B cannot be output by the output device. On the other hand, an object is not superimposed on cell 41C. That is, the color of cell 41C can be output by the output device.
The color gamut determination information generating unit 141 may generate an output feasibility image 40 in which the color of the object 42 is changed, thereby indicating the degree to which each predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device in the output feasibility image 40. For example, the color gamut determination information generating unit 141 may change the color of an object according to the magnitude of the difference between the predicted value and the color gamut, as in the case of objects 42A and 42B shown in Fig. 9. This allows the user to easily visually recognize the degree to which each predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device.
It should be noted that the shape and color of the object to be superimposed on each cell are not limited to this example.

The statistical information 50 shown in Figure 10 shows, as examples of individual statistics in addition to the overall statistics (total number of multiplications, number of multiplications that can be displayed), statistical information for the combination of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2- of chip 0034, and the combination of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1- of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of chip 0034, among the density-adjusted colorimetric values shown in Figure 3. For example, it is shown that for the combination of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2- of chip 0034, the proportion of colors included in the color gamut of the output device among the printing color set is 90%. It also shows that for the combination of density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1- of chip 0011 and density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of chip 0034, the ratio of colors included in the color gamut of the output device among the set of printing colors is 85%. It also shows that the total number of multiplications (the product of the number of all combinations of density-adjusted colorimetric values shown in FIG. 3 and the number of multiplications generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124) is nnn, of which the number of multiplications that the output device can output is mmm, which is 80%.

(6) Output unit 151
The function of the output unit 151 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the output unit 151 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(7) Color and Density Range Database 161
The function of the color/density range database 161 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the color/density range database 161 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(8) Approximate Color Database 162
The function of the approximate color database 162 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the approximate color database 162 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(9) Absorption and scattering coefficient database 163
The functions of the absorption/scattering coefficient database 163 according to the second embodiment are similar to the functions of the absorption/scattering coefficient database 163 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore will not be described again.

(10) Output device color characteristic database 164
The function of the output device color characteristic database 164 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the output device color characteristic database 164 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(11) Gradation characteristic table database 165
Parameters representing the tone characteristics of the primary color inks (appearance rate of density tone regions corresponding to the commanded dot area ratio) are calculated and stored in advance in the tone characteristic table database 165. Specifically, the parameters can be calculated by the process described in paragraphs 0061 to 0094 of Japanese Patent No. 6623679.

<2-2. Processing flow>
An example of the configuration of the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment has been described above. Next, an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment.
Note that steps S201 to S204, step S208, and step S209 shown in FIG. 11 are similar to steps S101 to S104, step S106, and step S107 shown in FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment, respectively, and therefore their description will be omitted.

The halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124 generates the halftone dot multiplication (step S205).

Next, the print color prediction unit 125 calculates a predicted value for each color indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set based on the gradation characteristic information and the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124 (step S206).

Next, the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether the predicted value is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the predicted value predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 and the color profile of the output device (step S207).

As described above, the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122, a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123, a halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124, a print color prediction unit 125, a color gamut determination unit 131, and a color gamut determination information generation unit 141.
The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material.
The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates a color-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values that have changed due to adjustment of solid colors, based on the variation information and the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111.
The concentration-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates a concentration-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values that have fluctuated due to adjustment of the ink concentration, based on the fluctuation information and the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122.
The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 generates a halftone dot multiplication set that indicates a multiplication of at least two types of colors in halftone dots of a print.
The print color prediction unit 125 generates a print color set, which is a set of predicted colorimetric values of the print colors in each multiplication printed material indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set, based on the variable colorimetric value set and the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124.
The color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 and the color profile of the output device that outputs the printed matter.
The color gamut determination information generating unit 141 generates color gamut determination information indicating the relationship between the color measurement values and the color gamut based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit 131 .

With this configuration, a requester (user) of a printout color tone check can check whether each color that can be expressed by the ink used to print the printout whose color tone is to be checked can be reproduced on the checker's output device by checking the color gamut determination information generated by color gamut determination system 10A. This allows the requester to take measures based on the determination result so as to avoid any discrepancy between the checker and the user in recognizing the color tone. For example, the requester can print the printout without using a color that is determined to be unable to be reproduced on the checker's output device, adjust the color or density so that it is included in the color gamut of the checker's output device, or change the output method on the checker's side (for example, from output by monitor to output by printer).

Therefore, the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment makes it possible to reduce the possibility of discrepancies in color tone recognition between the person requesting the color tone check of a printed material and the person checking it.

<<3. Third embodiment>>
Having described the second embodiment of the present invention, a third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs.
In the first embodiment described above, an example is described in which it is determined whether or not each colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is included in the color gamut of the output device, and in the second embodiment, an example is described in which it is determined whether or not the colorimetric value of the printed color when the color obtained by multiplying each color indicated by the colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set is actually reproduced on a printed matter, is included in the color gamut of the output device. In the third embodiment, an example is described in which it is determined whether or not the colorimetric value of the printed color at each pixel of the platemaking image is included in the color gamut of the output device when the platemaking image of the printed matter is printed using the colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set as the primary colors.
It should be noted that descriptions overlapping with those of the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

3-1. Configuration of color gamut determination system
An example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, the color gamut determination system 10B includes an input unit 101, a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a platemaking image acquisition unit 112, a variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121, a color gamut determination unit 131, a color gamut determination information generation unit 141, an output unit 151, a color/density range database 161, an approximate color database 162, an absorption/scattering coefficient database 163, an output device color characteristic database 164, and a gradation characteristic table database 165.

(1) Input unit 101
The function of the input unit 101 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the input unit 101 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(2) Colorimetric value acquisition unit 111
The function of the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(3) Platemaking Image Acquisition Unit 112
The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 acquires a platemaking image of a printed matter. The platemaking image is, for example, a file written in a common image format (e.g., TIFF (Tagged Image File Format). The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 acquires the platemaking image based on, for example, a user's selection. As an example, the user inputs information about the selected platemaking image to the input unit 101. The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 reads and acquires the platemaking image corresponding to the information about the platemaking image input to the input unit 101.

(4) Fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121
The variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the third embodiment has a function of calculating variable colorimetric values, similar to the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the third embodiment has a function of predicting the colorimetric value of the printing color at each pixel of the platemaking image based on the calculated variable colorimetric value set.
As shown in FIG. 12 , the fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 includes a color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 , a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 , and a print color prediction unit 125 .

(4-1) Color Adjustment Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 122
The function of the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(4-2) Density Adjusted Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 123
The function of the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(4-3) Print color prediction unit 125
The print color prediction unit 125 has a function of predicting the colorimetric values of the print colors at each pixel of the platemaking image when the platemaking image is printed using the colors indicated by the density-adjusted colorimetric values as primary colors. The colorimetric values predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 are also called "predicted values" as in the second embodiment. For example, the print color prediction unit 125 calculates predicted values at each pixel of the printed matter on which the platemaking image is printed based on the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit 112, the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123, and the gradation characteristic information. When multiple predicted values are calculated, the print color prediction unit 125 generates a print color set that is a set of the multiple calculated predicted values. Note that in this embodiment, the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 is a variable colorimetric value set.

Based on the gradation characteristic information, the print color prediction unit 125 predicts (calculates predicted values) the colorimetric value of the print color for each pixel of the printed material on which the platemaking image is printed. When there are multiple images that make up the platemaking image, the print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric value of the print color obtained by multiplying the colors of corresponding pixels between the images. In this way, the print color prediction unit 125 can obtain a colorimetric value image when the platemaking image is printed with the specified ink color.

The process in which the print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric values of the print colors is specifically described in paragraphs 0061 to 0094 of Japanese Patent No. 6623679.

An example of a plate making image and a color measurement value image will now be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a plate making image and a color measurement value image according to the third embodiment.
The plate making image 60 shown in Fig. 13 is composed of six images. The six images correspond to, for example, the C, M, Y, K, S1, and S2 channels (plates), respectively. The print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric values of the print colors in the plate making image 60 made up of these six images from the multiplication value of the corresponding pixels of each image. In this way, the print color prediction unit 125 can obtain the colorimetric value image 70 shown in Fig. 13.

(5) Color Gamut Determining Unit 131
The function of the color gamut determining unit 131 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the color gamut determining unit 131 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted.
The color gamut determination unit 131 according to the third embodiment determines whether or not the predicted values predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 can be reproduced by an output device that outputs a printed matter. Note that the color gamut determination unit 131 performs the determination for all predicted values included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125.

(6) Color gamut determination information generation unit 141
The function of the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the first embodiment described with reference to Figure 1, so duplicated explanations will be omitted.
The color gamut determination information generation unit 141 of the third embodiment generates, as color gamut determination information, an image indicating whether or not each predicted value included in the printing color set generated by the printing color prediction unit 125 is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included, for at least a portion of the pixels of the platemaking image.

The information indicating whether each predicted value included in the printing color set is included in the color gamut of the output device is, for example, an output possibility image. The output possibility image is an image to which, for each pixel of the platemaking image whose predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device, information indicating whether the output device can output the color of the pixel is added. When the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each predicted value included in the printing color set is included in the color gamut of the output device, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the output possibility image as color gamut determination information. As an example, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 superimposes a mask image on each pixel of the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) whose predicted value is determined to be not included in the color gamut of the output device.
In addition, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 may generate an output feasibility image in which the color of the mask image is changed, thereby generating color gamut determination information indicating the degree to which the predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device.

Now, an example of color gamut determination information will be described with reference to Figs. 14 and 15. Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrams showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the third embodiment. Fig. 14 shows an output feasibility image indicating whether or not each predicted value is included in the color gamut of the output device, and Fig. 15 is an output feasibility image indicating the degree to which each predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device. Note that the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) in the output feasibility image shown in Figs. 14 and 15 is a color image.

In an output feasibility image 80 shown in FIG. 14, a mask image 81 is superimposed on pixels of the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) whose predicted values are not included in the color gamut of the output device.
In the output feasibility image 80 shown in Fig. 15, a mask image 91 or a mask image 92 is superimposed on pixels of the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) whose predicted values are not included in the color gamut of the output device. As in the mask images 91 and 92 shown in Fig. 15, the color of the mask image may be changed according to the magnitude of the difference between the predicted value and the color gamut. This allows the user to easily visually recognize the degree to which each predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device.
14 and 15, an example in which the platemaking image in the output propriety image is a color image is described, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. In order to make the color of the mask image easily visible, the color of the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) may be a monochrome image with only light and dark, and the mask image may be superimposed thereon.

(7) Output unit 151
The function of the output unit 151 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the output unit 151 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(8) Color and Density Range Database 161
The function of the color/density range database 161 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the color/density range database 161 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(9) Approximate Color Database 162
The function of the approximate color database 162 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the approximate color database 162 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(10) Absorption and scattering coefficient database 163
The function of the absorption/scattering coefficient database 163 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the absorption/scattering coefficient database 163 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(11) Output device color characteristic database 164
The function of the output device color characteristic database 164 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the output device color characteristic database 164 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

(12) Gradation characteristic table database 165
The function of the gradation characteristic table database 165 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the gradation characteristic table database 165 according to the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

<3-2. Processing flow>
An example of the configuration of the color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment has been described above. Next, an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment.
Note that steps S301 to S304, step S308, and step S309 shown in FIG. 16 are similar to steps S101 to S104, step S106, and step S107 shown in FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment, and therefore their description will be omitted.

The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 acquires the platemaking image (step S305).

The print color prediction unit 125 calculates predicted values for each pixel of the printed material on which the platemaking image is printed based on the gradation characteristic information, the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit 112, and the set of density-adjusted colorimetric values calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 (step S306).

Next, the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether the predicted value is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the predicted value predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 and the color profile of the output device (step S307).

As described above, the color gamut determination system 10B relating to the third embodiment includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122, a density adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 123, a platemaking image acquisition unit 112, a printing color prediction unit 125, a color gamut determination unit 131, and a color gamut determination information generation unit 141.
The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material.
The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates a color-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values that have changed due to adjustment of solid colors, based on the variation information and the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111.
The concentration-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates a concentration-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values that have fluctuated due to adjustment of the ink concentration, based on the fluctuation information and the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122.
The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 acquires a platemaking image of a printed matter.
The print color prediction unit 125 generates a print color set, which is a set of predicted colorimetric values of the print colors at each pixel of the printed material on which the platemaking image is printed, based on the variable colorimetric value set, the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit 112, and gradation characteristic information.
The color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 and the color profile of the output device that outputs the printed matter.
The color gamut determination information generating unit 141 generates color gamut determination information indicating the relationship between the color measurement values and the color gamut based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit 131 .

With this configuration, a requester (user) of a printout color tone check can check whether each color that can be expressed by the ink used to print the printout whose color tone is to be checked can be reproduced on the checker's output device by checking the color gamut determination information generated by color gamut determination system 10A. This allows the requester to take measures based on the determination result so as to avoid any discrepancy between the checker and the user in recognizing the color tone. For example, the requester can print the printout without using a color that is determined to be unable to be reproduced on the checker's output device, adjust the color or density so that it is included in the color gamut of the checker's output device, or change the output method on the checker's side (for example, from output by monitor to output by printer).

Therefore, the color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment makes it possible to reduce the possibility of discrepancies in color tone recognition between the person requesting the color tone check of a printed matter and the person checking it.

The above describes the embodiments of the present invention. Note that some or all of the functions of each unit of the color gamut determination system 10, color gamut determination system 10A, and color gamut determination system 10B in each of the above-mentioned embodiments may be realized by a computer. In that case, a program for realizing this function may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in this recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to realize the function. Note that the "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. In addition, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as a flexible disk, optical magnetic disk, ROM, and CD-ROM, and storage devices such as a hard disk built into a computer system. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" may also include a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that is a server or client in that case. The above program may be for implementing some of the functions described above, or may be capable of implementing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, or may be implemented using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

The above describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

10 Color gamut determination system 101 Input section 111 Colorimetric value acquisition section 112 Plate making image acquisition section 121 Variation colorimetric value calculation section 122 Color adjustment colorimetric value calculation section 123 Density adjustment colorimetric value calculation section 124 Halftone dot multiplication generation section 125 Print color prediction section 131 Color gamut determination section 141 Color gamut determination information generation section 151 Output section 161 Color and density range database 162 Approximate color database 163 Absorption and scattering coefficient database 164 Output device color characteristic database 165 Tone characteristic table database

Claims (6)

a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter;
a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take;
a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values and ink blending ratios, calculates absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculates a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance;
a platemaking image acquisition unit that reads and acquires the platemaking image corresponding to information on the platemaking image of the printed matter input by a user;
a print color prediction unit that predicts the colorimetric values of print colors at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit, based on gradation characteristic information indicating a correspondence relationship between the ink and gradation characteristics, thereby generating a print color set that is a set of predicted colorimetric values at each pixel;
a color gamut determination unit that determines whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values included in the color gamut of the output device;
a color gamut determination information generation unit that generates color gamut determination information indicating whether or not each of the predicted values is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which each of the predicted values is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit;
A color gamut determination system comprising: A step in which a colorimetric value acquisition unit acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material;
a step of calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set, which is a set of values that the colorimetric value that varies when the solid color is adjusted within the solid color adjustment range, by a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric value acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the solid color adjustment range based on color range information that indicates the solid color adjustment range;
a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit calculating, based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values and ink blending ratios, ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each calculated blending ratio based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance, all combinations of values that each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range, thereby calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take;
a step of reading and acquiring the platemaking image corresponding to the information of the platemaking image of the printed matter input by a user by a platemaking image acquisition unit;
a printing color prediction unit predicts the colorimetric values of the printing colors at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit, based on gradation characteristic information indicating the correspondence between the ink and gradation characteristics, thereby generating a printing color set which is a set of predicted colorimetric values at each pixel;
a step of determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values included in the color gamut of the output device;
a step of generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not each of the predicted values is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which each of the predicted values is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit;
A color gamut determination method comprising: Computer,
a colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring colorimetric values of a solid color of ink used in printing a printed matter;
a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information indicating the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take;
a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means for calculating ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values and ink blending ratios, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance;
a platemaking image acquisition means for reading and acquiring the platemaking image corresponding to the platemaking image information of the printed matter input by a user;
a print color prediction means for predicting the colorimetric values of print colors at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition means, based on gradation characteristic information indicating the correspondence between the ink and gradation characteristics, thereby generating a print color set which is a set of predicted colorimetric values at each pixel;
a color gamut determination means for determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction means is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values included in the color gamut of the output device;
a color gamut determination information generating means for generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not each of the predicted values is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which each of the predicted values is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determining means;
A program that functions as a a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter;
a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take;
a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values and ink blending ratios, calculates absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculates a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance;
a halftone dot multiplication generating unit that generates a halftone dot multiplication set, which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors represented by the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculating unit, in a halftone dot of a printed matter;
a print color prediction unit that predicts the color measurement values of the print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating the gradation characteristics of the primary color inks, thereby generating a print color set that is a set of predicted values of each color;
a color gamut determination unit that determines whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values included in the color gamut of the output device;
a color gamut determination information generating unit that generates color gamut determination information indicating whether or not the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or indicating the degree to which the predicted value is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit;
A color gamut determination system comprising: A step in which a colorimetric value acquisition unit acquires colorimetric values of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material;
a step of calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set, which is a set of values that the colorimetric value that varies when the solid color is adjusted within the solid color adjustment range, by a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric value acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the solid color adjustment range based on color range information that indicates the solid color adjustment range;
a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit calculating, based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values and ink blending ratios, ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each calculated blending ratio based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance, all combinations of values that each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range, thereby calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take;
a step of generating a halftone dot multiplication set, which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors represented by the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit in the halftone dots of the printed matter;
a step of generating a print color set, which is a set of predicted values of each color, by a print color prediction unit predicting color measurement values of print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating gradation characteristics of primary color inks;
a step of determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values included in the color gamut of the output device;
a step of generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or indicating the degree to which the predicted value is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit;
A color gamut determination method comprising: Computer,
a colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring colorimetric values of a solid color of ink used in printing a printed matter;
a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating all combinations of values that the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information indicating the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take;
a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means for calculating ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values and ink blending ratios, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values that the colorimetric values that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance;
a halftone dot multiplication generating means for generating a halftone dot multiplication set, which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors represented by the colorimetric values included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculating means, in a halftone dot of a printed matter;
a print color prediction means for predicting the color measurement values of the print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generating means is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating the gradation characteristics of the primary color inks, thereby generating a print color set which is a set of predicted values of each color;
a color gamut determination means for determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction means is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values included in the color gamut of the output device;
a color gamut determination information generating means for generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or indicating the degree to which the predicted value is included, based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining means;
A program that functions as a

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