Method and apparatus to generate a preview image

Abstract

A method and apparatus to generate a preview image. The method of generating the preview image includes classifying data input from an application program by data types, performing a color matching operation that converts a first color signal of the input data into a second color signal used in a printing device according to one or more rendering intents set for the classified data types, and generating the preview image of the input data for which the color matching operation is completed. The preview image is generated based on the color-matched data for the different classified data types. Thus, the preview image appears to be substantially the same image as a document that is printed by an image forming device.

1 . A method of generating a preview image, the method comprising: 
 classifying data input from an application program by data types;    performing a color matching operation that converts a first color signal of the input data into a second color signal used in a printing device according to one or more rendering intents set for the classified data types; and    generating a preview image of the input data for which the color matching operation is completed.    
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating a file by synthesizing the classified input data before the color matching operation is performed.    
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating and providing a user interface in which the preview image is displayed.    
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the color matching operation is performed using an input device International Color Consortium (ICC) profile and an output device ICC profile having a lookup table provided to correspond to the one or more rendering intents thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a rendering intent setting window through which one or more rendering intents are changeable for the input data that is classified by the data types.  
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the color matching operation is re-performed for data having one or more changed rendering intents if the one or more rendering intents are changed through the rendering intent setting window.  
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 selecting an area in the preview image where color is to be corrected;    inputting a color value to be applied the selected area; and    correcting the color of the selected area based on the input color value.    
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 selecting one color in the selected area; and    correcting the selected color of the selected area.    
   
   
       9 . A method of previewing an image usable with an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: 
 setting a plurality of rendering intents associated with a plurality of different data object types; and    generating a preview image of a specified file according to the set plurality of rendering intents.    
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 enabling the specified file to be prepared using one or more applications to include the plurality of different data object types including at least one of an image object, a text object, and a graphic object.    
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of different data object types comprise first, second, and third data object types, and the setting of the plurality of rendering intents comprises: 
 classifying objects contained in the specified file according to the different data object types;    performing a first storing operation to store one or more objects of the first data object type, performing a second storing operation to store one or more objects of the second data object type, and performing a third storing operation to store one or more objects of the third data object type; and    synthesizing the stored objects of the first, second, and third data object types in a predetermined file format.    
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the setting of the plurality of rendering intents further comprises: 
 performing a color matching operation by converting a first color signal of the specified file in the predetermined file format to a second color signal to be printed in the image forming apparatus according to the set plurality of rendering intents.    
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the color matching operation is performed using a first International Color Consortium (ICC) profile associated with a display unit on which the preview image is viewable and a second ICC profile associated with the image forming apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the setting of the plurality of rendering intents further comprises: 
 generating a preview window to display the preview image corresponding to the second color signal of the specified file.    
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the preview window enables the set plurality of rendering intents associated with the plurality of different data object types to be changed after the preview image is displayed such that the color matching operation is re-performed according to the changed plurality of rendering intents when the plurality of rendering intents associated with the plurality of different data object types are changed.  
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the setting of the plurality of rendering intents further comprises: 
 enabling a color of the displayed preview image to be changed using at least one of a color correcting window to correct one or more color characteristics and a rendering intent setting window to change the set plurality of rendering intents associated with the plurality of different data object types.    
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the setting of the plurality of rendering intents further comprises: 
 enabling a color of the displayed preview image to be changed using a color correcting window to correct one or more color characteristics by selecting an object in the displayed preview image and selecting a new color value for the selected object such that the preview image is re-generated accordingly.    
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the enabling of the color of the displayed preview image to be changed using a color correcting window comprises: 
 operating in an object selection mode to enable a user to select the object for which the color is to be changed; and    operating in a color selection mode to enable the user to select the new color value for the selected object.    
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the color correcting window includes one or more slide bars to change at least one of a color saturation and a color brightness of the selected object.  
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 generating file information and associated color information of the specified file;    converting the file information and the associated color information into printer data that is readable by the image forming apparatus; and    sending printer data to the image forming apparatus.    
   
   
       21 . An apparatus to generate a preview image, the apparatus comprising: 
 a classifying unit to classify data input from an application program by data types;    a color matching unit to perform a color matching operation that converts a first color signal of the input data into a second color signal used in a printing device according to one or more rendering intents set for the classified data types; and    a screen generating unit to generate and provide a user interface to display the preview image of the data for which the color matching operation is completed.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a file generating unit to generate a file by synthesizing the input data according to the classified data types.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the color matching unit performs the color matching operation using an input device International Color Consortium (ICC) profile and an output device ICC profile having a lookup table provided to correspond to the one or more rendering intents.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the user interface includes a rendering intent setting window through which the one or more rendering intents are changeable for the input data that is classified by the data types.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the color matching unit re-performs the color matching operation for data having one or more changed rendering intents if the one or more rendering intents are changed through the rendering intent setting window.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a color correcting unit to correct a color of an area selected in the preview image.    
   
   
       27 . An image preview apparatus usable with an image forming apparatus, the image preview apparatus comprising: 
 a color management driver to set a plurality of rendering intents associated with a plurality of different data object types; and    a display unit to generate a preview image of a specified file according to the set plurality of rendering intents.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 an application program unit to enable the specified file to be prepared using one or more applications to include the plurality of different data object types including at least one of an image object, a text object, and a graphic object.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the color management driver comprises: 
 an object classifying unit to classify objects contained in the specified file according to the different data object types;    a first buffer to store objects of a first data object type, a second buffer to store objects of a second data object type, and a third buffer to store objects of a third data object type; and    a file generating unit to synthesize the objects stored in the first, second, and third buffers in a predetermined file format.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the color management driver further comprises: 
 a color matching unit to perform a color matching operation by converting a first color signal of the specified file in the predetermined file format to a second color signal of the image forming apparatus according to the set plurality of rendering intents.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the color matching unit performs the color matching operation using a first International Color Consortium (ICC) profile associated with the display unit and a second ICC profile associated with the image forming apparatus.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the color management driver further comprises: 
 a screen generating unit to generate a preview window to display the preview image of the specified file having the second color signal.    
   
   
       33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the preview window enables the set plurality of rendering intents associated with the plurality of different data object types to be changed after the preview image is displayed such that the color matching unit re-performs the color matching operation according to the changed plurality of rendering intents when the plurality of rendering intents associated with the plurality of different data object types are changed.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the color management driver further comprises: 
 a color correcting unit to enable a color of the displayed preview image to be changed using at least one of a color correcting window to correct one or more color characteristics and a rendering intent setting window to change the set plurality of rendering intents associated with the plurality of different data object types.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the color management driver further comprises: 
 a color correcting unit to enable a color of the displayed preview image to be changed using a color correcting window to correct one or more color characteristics by selecting an object in the displayed preview image and selecting a new color value for the selected object such that the screen generating unit re-generates the preview image.    
   
   
       36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the color correcting unit operates in an object selection mode to enable a user to select the object for which the color is to be changed, and the color correcting unit operates in a color selection mode to enable the user to select the new color value for the selected object.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the color correcting window includes one or more slide bars to change at least one of a color saturation and a color brightness of the selected object.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a printer driver to receive the specified file and color information associated therewith from the color management driver, to convert the specified file and the associated color information to printer data, and to send the printer data to the image forming apparatus.    
   
   
       39 . An image forming apparatus, comprising: 
 a color management driver to set a plurality of rendering intents associated with a plurality of different data object types and to generate a preview image of a specified file according to the set plurality of rendering intents.    
   
   
       40 . A computer-readable medium containing executable code to generate a preview image, the medium comprising: 
 a first executable code to classify data input from an application program by data types;    a second executable code to perform a color matching operation that converts a first color signal of the input data into a second color signal used in a printing device according to one or more rendering intents set for the classified data types; and    a third executable code to generate and provide the preview image of the input data for which the color matching operation is completed.    
   
   
       41 . The computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 a fourth executable code to select an area in the preview image for which color is to be corrected;    a fifth executable code to input a color value to be applied to the color of the selected area; and    a sixth executable code to correct the color of the selected area based on the input color value.    
   
   
       42 . A user interface usable with an image forming apparatus to preview an image on a display unit before printing, the user interface comprising: 
 a preview window to display a preview image of a file containing one or more data objects; and    a rendering intent setting window to enable a user to set one or more rendering intents for each different type of data object.    
   
   
       43 . The user interface as claimed in  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 a color information correcting window to enable a user to adjust one or more color characteristics of an object selected in the preview image.    
   
   
       44 . The user interface as claimed in  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 a profile setting window to set a first International Color Consortium (ICC) profile that corresponds to the display unit and a second ICC profile that corresponds to the image forming apparatus such that rendering intents for each of the first and second profiles are used to convert a first color signal of the display unit to a second color signal of the image forming apparatus.