Printing cost-calculating method and apparatus, printer driver, printing apparatus, printing system, printing cost-calculating system and printed matter-issuing system

A printing cost-calculating apparatus for calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical data,

• the printing cost-calculating apparatus comprising:
• first calculation means for calculating an amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed for preparation of the printed matter, based on the digital image;
• and
• second calculation means for calculating the printing cost based on the amount of the at least one coloring material calculated by said first calculation means.

A printer driver capable of calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical data,

• the printer driver comprising:
• first calculation means for calculating an amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed for preparation of the printed matter, based on the digital image;
• and
• second calculation means for calculating the printing cost based on the amount of the at least one coloring material calculated by said first calculation means, and
• wherein said first calculation means calculates the amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed, based on the number of dots to be printed for preparation of the printed matter.

A printing apparatus capable of calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical data,

• the printing apparatus comprising:
• first calculation means for calculating an amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed for preparation of the printed matter, based on the digital image;
• second calculation means for calculating the printing cost based on the amount of the at least one coloring material calculated by said first calculation means;
• and
• printed matter-preparing means for preparing the printed matter by using the at least one coloring material, based on the digital image.

A printing system capable of calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical data,

• the printing system comprising:
• a printing apparatus including:
• first calculation means for calculating an amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed for preparation of the printed matter, based on the digital image, and
• second calculation means for calculating the printing cost based on the amount of the at least one coloring material calculated by said first calculation means, and
• printed matter-preparing means for preparing the printed matter by using the at least one coloring material, based on the digital image;
• and
• digital image-forming means for forming the digital image.

A printing cost-calculating system for calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical data,

• the printing cost-calculating system comprising:
• first calculation means for calculating an amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed for preparation of the printed matter, based on the digital image;
• and
• second calculation means for calculating the printing cost based on the amount of the at least one coloring material calculated by said first calculation means;
• and
• wherein said first calculation means includes means for calculating amounts of the at least one coloring material for respective colors thereof,
• wherein said second calculation means includes means for calculating the printing cost based on the amounts of the at least one coloring material calculated for the respective colors thereof, and prices of unit amounts of the at least one coloring material set for the respective colors, and
• wherein the prices are variable.

A printing cost-calculating system for calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical data,

• the printing cost-calculating system comprising:
• first calculation means for calculating an amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed for preparation of the printed matter, based on the digital image;
• second calculation means for calculating the printing cost based on the amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed calculated by said first calculation means;
• and
• network means capable of automatically responding to an access from outside.

A printing cost-calculating system for calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical data,

• the printing cost-calculating system comprising:
• first calculation means for calculating an amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed for preparation of the printed matter, based on the digital image;
• second calculation means for calculating the printing cost based on the amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed calculated by said first calculation means;
• digital image-acquiring means for acquiring the digital image from a client requesting calculation of the printing cost;
• and
• printing condition-acquiring means for acquiring printing conditions under which the printed matter should be prepared based on the digital image acquired by said digital image-acquiring means, from the client and
• wherein said second calculation means calculates the printing cost according to the printing conditions acquired by said printing condition-acquiring means.

A printed matter-issuing system capable of calculating a printing cost required for preparing printed matter by using at least one coloring material, based on a digital image represented by discrete numerical data, comprising:

• a printing cost-calculating system including:
• first calculation means for calculating an amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed for preparation of the printed matter, based on the digital image,
• second calculation means for calculating the printing cost based on the amount of the at least one coloring material to be consumed calculated by said first calculation means,
• digital image-acquiring means for acquiring the digital image from a client requesting calculation of the printing cost,
• printing condition-acquiring means for acquiring printing conditions under which the printed matter should be prepared based on the digital image acquired by said digital image-acquiring means, from the client, and
• printing cost-presenting means for presenting the printing cost calculated by said second calculation means to the client,
• wherein said second calculation means calculates the printing cost according to the printing conditions acquired by said printing condition-acquiring means;
• and
• printed matter-issuing means for issuing the printed matter prepared based on the digital image acquired by said digital image-acquiring means, under the printing conditions acquired by said printing condition-acquiring means, to the client.