Image processing apparatus performing printer calibration

An image processing method, which creates an image processing condition according to an output characteristic of an image output apparatus, and which performs an image process on an inputted image using the created image processing condition, said method comprising:

• a creation step of causing the image output apparatus to form a patch on a recording medium, and creating and storing an image processing condition based on data obtained by reading the formed patch;
• a measurement step of automatically measuring the formed patch, based on a predetermined condition in the image output apparatus;
• and
• a correction step of correcting the stored image processing condition, based on a measurement result of the formed patch measured in said measurement step,
• wherein the image processing condition is stored in a nonvolatile storage unit, and the image processing condition corrected in said correction step is stored in a temporary storage unit.

A printer calibration system comprising:

• a printer that includes a controller and a printing unit;
• and
• a server system,
• wherein said printer and said server system are connected to a network,
• wherein said server system comprises:
• output means arranged to instruct said printer to output patch data;
• first engine information obtaining means arranged to obtain, from said printer, characteristic information of an engine immediately after the patch data is outputted, as first engine characteristic information;
• first calibration data generation means arranged to capture by a scanner the patch data outputted from said printer, and generate first calibration data based on the captured patch data;
• and
• download means arranged to download the first calibration data, generated by the first calibration data generation means, and the first engine characteristic information, obtained by the first engine information obtaining means, to said printer,
• wherein said printer comprises:
• second engine information obtaining means arranged to cause the controller to obtain, from the engine, latest characteristic information of the engine, as second engine characteristic information;
• and
• second calibration data generation means arranged to cause the controller to generate second calibration data, based on a state of a download, using at least the second engine characteristic information, and
• wherein, in a printing mode based on a page description language, the controller performs an image process using the second calibration data and sends data that has been processed by the image process to the engine, and the printing unit performs printing based on the sent data.

A printer calibration method for a printer calibration system that comprises a printer that includes a controller and a printing unit and a server system, the printer and the server system being connected to a network,

• wherein said method at the server system comprises:
• an output step of instructing the printer to output patch data;
• a first engine information obtaining step of obtaining, from the printer, characteristic information of an engine immediately after the patch data is outputted, as first engine characteristic information;
• a first calibration data generation step of capturing through a scanner the patch data outputted from the printer, and generating first calibration data based on the captured patch data;
• and
• a download step of downloading the first calibration data, generated in said first calibration data generation step, and the first engine characteristic information, obtained in said first engine information obtaining step, to the printer,
• wherein said method at the printer comprises:
• a second engine information obtaining step of causing the controller to obtain from the engine latest characteristic information of the engine, as second engine characteristic information;
• and
• a second calibration data generation step of causing the controller to generate second calibration data based on a state of a download, using at least the second engine characteristic information, and
• wherein, in a printing mode based on a page description language, the controller performs an image process using the second calibration data and sends data that has been processed by the image process to the engine, and the printing unit performs printing based on the sent data.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing a printer calibration method in a printer calibration system comprising a printer that includes a controller and a printer and a server system, the printer and the server system being connected to a network, wherein the program comprises:

• a module for causing the server system to execute:
• an output step of instructing the printer to output patch data,
• a first engine information obtaining step of obtaining, from the printer, characteristic information of an engine immediately after the patch data is outputted, as first engine characteristic information,
• a first calibration data generation step of capturing through a scanner the patch data outputted from the printer, and generating first calibration data based on the captured patch data, and
• a download step of downloading the first calibration data, generated in said first calibration data generation step, and the first engine characteristic information, obtained in said first engine information obtaining step, to the printer;
• and
• a module for causing the printer to execute:
• a second engine information obtaining step of obtaining latest characteristic information of the engine as second engine characteristic information, from the engine,
• a second calibration data generation step of causing the controller to generate second calibration data based on a state of a download, using at least the second engine characteristic information, and
• a printing step of, in a printing mode based on a page description language, causing the controller to perform an image process using the second calibration data and sending data that has been processed by the image process to the engine, so as to perform printing.

A printer calibration apparatus in which a controller is caused to obtain latest characteristic information of an engine from the engine, and in which a printer is controlled to generate calibration data, said apparatus comprising:

• output means arranged to instruct the printer to output patch data;
• first engine information obtaining means arranged to obtain, from the printer, characteristic information of the engine immediately after the patch data is outputted, as first engine characteristic information;
• first calibration data generation means arranged to capture by a scanner the patch data outputted from the printer, and generate first calibration data based on the captured patch data;
• and
• download means arranged to download the first calibration data, generated by said first calibration data generation means, and the first engine characteristic information, obtained by said first engine information obtaining means, to the printer so as to cause the printer to generate second calibration data,
• wherein, in a case in which the printer is to perform printing based on a page description language, the controller is caused to perform an image process using the second calibration data and send data that has been processed by the image process to the engine, so as to perform printing.

A printer calibration method for a printer calibration apparatus in which a controller is caused to obtain latest characteristic information of an engine from the engine, and in which a printer is controlled to generate calibration data, said method comprising:

• an output step of instructing the printer to output patch data;
• a first engine information obtaining step of obtaining, from the printer, characteristic information of the engine immediately after the patch data is outputted, as first engine characteristic information;
• a first calibration data generation step of capturing by a scanner the patch data outputted from the printer, and generating first calibration data based on the captured patch data;
• and
• a download step of downloading, to the printer, the first calibration data generated in said first calibration data generation step and the first engine characteristic information obtained in said first engine information obtaining step, so as to cause the printer to generate second calibration data,
• wherein, in a case in which the printer is to perform printing based on a page description language, the controller is caused to perform an image process using the second calibration data and send data that has been processed by the image process to the engine, so as to perform printing.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing a printer calibration method, in which a controller is caused to obtain latest characteristic information of an engine from the engine, and in which a printer is controlled to generate calibration data, wherein the method comprises:

• an output step of instructing the printer to output patch data;
• a first engine information obtaining step of obtaining, from the printer, characteristic information of the engine immediately after the patch data is outputted, as first engine characteristic information;
• a first calibration data generation step of capturing by a scanner the patch data outputted from the printer, and generating first calibration data based on the captured patch data;
• and
• a download step of downloading, to the printer, the first calibration data generated in said first calibration data generation step and the first engine characteristic information obtained in said first engine information obtaining step, so as to cause the printer to generate second calibration data,
• wherein, in a case in which the printer is to perform printing based on a page description language, the controller is caused to perform an image process using the second calibration data and send data that has been processed by the image process to the engine, so as to perform printing.