Print data generation apparatus performing color replacement on image data

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a set of program instructions installed on and executed by a computer, the set of program instructions comprising:

• acquiring target image data representing a target image which is a target for a printing operation in which a printer uses a plurality of types of colorant representing respectively a plurality of colors having a first color and a second color, the plurality of types of colorant having a first colorant representing the first color and a second colorant representing the second color, the target image including a plurality of pixels and including a first image including an allowable image which is a target for color replacement, the allowable image having a first-color region and a second-color region, consumption amounts of at least one type of colorant in the first-color region being different from consumption amounts of at least one type of colorant in the second-color region;
• acquiring first information concerning a plurality of residual amounts respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of colorant, the plurality of residual amounts including a first residual amount of the first colorant and a second residual amount of the second colorant;
• acquiring second information concerning a first consumption amount and a second consumption amount, the first consumption amount being an estimated amount of the first colorant to be consumed in a case where the entire first image is printed by the printer on a basis of pre-replacement data obtained from the target image data without performing color replacement, the second consumption amount being an estimated amount of the second colorant to be consumed in the case where the entire first image is printed by the printer on the basis of the pre-replacement data without performing the color replacement, the pre-replacement data representing the first image, the pre-replacement data including a plurality of pre-replacement pixel values respectively corresponding to pixels in the first image, each pre-replacement pixel value including a plurality of pre-replacement components respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of colorant, the plurality of pre-replacement components being respectively set to a plurality of pre-replacement component values, the plurality of pre-replacement component value including a first pre-replacement component value corresponding to the first colorant and a second pre-replacement component value corresponding to the second colorant;
• and
• generating print data representing the entire target image by using the target image data, the print data being for the printer to print the target image with the plurality of types of colorant, the print data including post-replacement data representing the first image, the post-replacement data being obtained by the color replacement on the pre-replacement data, the post-replacement data including a plurality of post-replacement pixel values respectively corresponding to the pixels in the first image, each post-replacement pixel value including a plurality of post-replacement color components respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of colorant, the plurality of post-replacement components including a first post-replacement component corresponding to the first colorant and a second post-replacement component corresponding to the second colorant,
• wherein in a case where the first residual amount is smaller than the second residual amount and the first consumption amount is larger than the second consumption amount, the color replacement on the pre-replacement data is performed so that in the allowable image, the second post-replacement component of a pixel is set to the first pre-replacement component value of the pixel and the first post-replacement component of the pixel is set to a pre-replacement component value other than the first pre-replacement component value of the pixel.

A print data generation apparatus comprising:

• first acquiring means for acquiring target image data representing a target image which is a target for a printing operation in which a printer uses a plurality of types of colorant representing respectively a plurality of colors having a first color and a second color, the plurality of types of colorant having a first colorant representing the first color and a second colorant representing the second color, the target image including a plurality of pixels and including a first image including an allowable image which is a target for color replacement, the allowable image having a first-color region and a second-color region, consumption amounts of at least one type of colorant in the first-color region being different from consumption amounts of at least one type of colorant in the second-color region;
• second acquiring means for acquiring first information concerning a plurality of residual amounts respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of colorant, the plurality of residual amounts including a first residual amount of the first colorant and a second residual amount of the second colorant;
• third acquiring means for acquiring second information concerning a first consumption amount and a second consumption amount, the first consumption amount being an estimated amount of the first colorant to be consumed in a case where the entire first image is printed by the printer on a basis of pre-replacement data obtained from the target image data without performing color replacement, the second consumption amount being an estimated amount of the second colorant to be consumed in the case where the entire first image is printed by the printer on the basis of the pre-replacement data without performing the color replacement, the pre-replacement data representing the first image, the pre-replacement data including a plurality of pre-replacement pixel values respectively corresponding to pixels in the first image, each pre-replacement pixel value including a plurality of pre-replacement components respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of colorant, the plurality of pre-replacement components being respectively set to a plurality of pre-replacement component values, the plurality of pre-replacement component value including a first pre-replacement component value corresponding to the first colorant and a second pre-replacement component value corresponding to the second colorant;
• and
• generating means for generating print data representing the entire target image by using the target image data, the print data being for the printer to print the target image with the plurality of types of colorant, the print data including post-replacement data representing the first image, the post-replacement data being obtained by the color replacement on the pre-replacement data, the post-replacement data including a plurality of post-replacement pixel values respectively corresponding to the pixels in the first image, each post-replacement pixel value including a plurality of post-replacement color components respectively corresponding to the plurality of types of colorant, the plurality of post-replacement components including a first post-replacement component corresponding to the first colorant and a second post-replacement component corresponding to the second colorant,
• wherein in a case where the first residual amount is smaller than the second residual amount and the first consumption amount is larger than the second consumption amount, the color replacement on the pre-replacement data is performed so that in the allowable image, the second post-replacement component of a pixel is set to the first pre-replacement component value of the pixel and the first post-replacement component of the pixel is set to a pre-replacement component value other than the first pre-replacement component value of the pixel.