Image processing apparatus, printing apparatus, and image processing method

An image processing method to process color signals as part of a process for converting input image data into color signals corresponding to inks of plural colors, for the purpose of printing an image onto a print medium by using print heads, upon which a plurality of nozzle arrays for ejecting the ink of plural colors are arranged, the image processing method comprising the steps of:

• a converting step for converting the input image data by using conversion table parameters associated with positions of nozzles on the print heads;
• a first setting step for setting a color formed by the overlap of ink for at least two colors;
• a first generating step for setting a plurality of detection colors on the basis of the color set by the first setting operation, and generating first image data made up of patches of the plurality of detection colors;
• a first test printing step for printing an image of the first image data by using the print heads;
• a first information acquiring step for acquiring information regarding
• a specified detection color from among the plurality of detection colors in the image printed by the first test printing operation, wherein the specified detection color has been confirmed to exhibit color unevenness due to variations in ejection characteristics among the plurality of nozzles, and
• a specified position specified as the position of nozzles on the print heads where the color unevenness was confirmed;
• a second generating step for generating second image data made up of a plurality of color correction patches in which the specified detection color is set for all nozzle positions other than the specified position, and a plurality of colors that differ from the specified detection color are set for the nozzles at the specified position for each of the plurality of color correction patches;
• a second test printing step for printing an image of the second image data by using the print heads;
• a second information acquiring step for acquiring information regarding a color correction patch in the second test print where the color unevenness has been reduced compared to the first test print;
• and
• a producing step for producing the conversion table parameters corresponding to the nozzles at the specified position in accordance with the information acquired by the second information acquiring step.

A printing apparatus which processes color signals as part of a process for convert g input image data into color signals corresponding to ink of plural colors, for the purpose of printing an image onto a print medium by using print heads, upon which a plurality of nozzle arrays for ejecting the ink of plural colors are arranged, the image processing apparatus comprising:

• a converting unit configured to convert the input image data by using conversion table parameters associated with positions of nozzles on the print heads;
• a first setting unit configured to set a color formed by the overlap of ink for at least two colors;
• a first generating unit configured to set a plurality of detection colors on the basis of the color set by the first setting means, and generate first image data made up of patches of the plurality of detection colors;
• a first test printing unit configured to print an image of the first image data by using the print heads;
• a first information acquiring unit configured to acquire information regarding:
• a specified detection color from among the plurality of detection colors in the image printed by the first test printing unit, wherein the specified detection color has been confirmed to exhibit color unevenness due to variations in ejection characteristics among the plurality of nozzles, and
• a specified position specified as the position of nozzles on the print heads where the color unevenness was confirmed;
• a second generating unit configured to generate second image data made up of a plurality of color correction patches in which the specified detection color is set for all nozzle positions other than the specified position, and a plurality of colors that differ from the specified detection color are set for the nozzles at the specified position for each of the plurality of color correction patches;
• a second test printing unit configured to print an image of the second image data by using the print heads;
• a second information acquiring unit configured to acquire information regarding a color correction patch in the second test print where the color unevenness has been reduced compared to the first test print;
• and
• a producing unit configured to produce the conversion table parameters corresponding to the nozzles at the specified position in accordance with the information acquired by the second information acquiring unit.