Output image adjustment method, apparatus and computer program product for graphics files

Abstract

When a memory card MC is inserted into slot, a control circuit of a color printer acquires and analyzes graphics processing control information GC from the memory card MC. A CPU corrects standard values for image quality parameters indicating graphics data qualities, to reflect the graphics processing control information GC. The CPU corrects image quality parameters to bring them into approximation with the corrected standard values, and adjusts image quality of the graphics data to reflect the corrected image quality parameters.

1 . A graphics processing device for performing graphics processing on graphics data with graphics processing control information for use during image quality correction of graphics data, the graphics processing control information being related to the graphics data, said graphics processing device comprising:
 an image quality properties acquisition mechanism configured to analyze said graphics data and acquire image quality property information that indicates a property pertaining to an image quality of said graphics data; and   an image quality adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the image quality of said graphics data based on the graphics processing control information and said image quality property information acquired by said image quality properties acquisition mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . A graphics processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said image quality property information is a combination of a plurality of image quality parameter values that indicate image quality properties of said graphics data; and   said image quality adjustment mechanism is configured to perform image quality adjustment by adjusting the image quality of said graphics data so as to reflect said graphics processing control information.   
   
   
       3 . A graphics processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said image quality property information is a combination of a plurality of image quality parameter values indicating image quality properties of said graphics data;   said image quality adjustment mechanism includes standard image quality parameter values serving as a basis for image quality adjustment, respective of said standard image quality parameter values being predetermined for each of said image quality parameter values; and   said image quality adjustment mechanism performs image quality adjustment by calculating, on the basis of said standard image quality parameter values and said image quality parameter values, a level of correction for correcting said graphics data, increasing or decreasing said level of correction on the basis of an analysis result of said graphics processing control information, and adjusting said graphics data to reflect an increased or decreased level of correction.   
   
   
       4 . A graphics processing device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the image quality adjustment mechanism is configured to increase or decrease the level of correction made based on the analysis result and by correcting said standard image quality parameter values based on the analysis result.   
   
   
       5 . A graphics processing device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the image quality adjustment mechanism is configured to increase or decrease the level of correction made based on the analysis result and by determining an appropriate level of correction based on the analysis result.   
   
   
       6 . A graphics processing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a graphics data output mechanism configured to output graphics data subjected to image quality adjustment by said image quality adjustment mechanism.   
   
   
       7 . A graphics processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said graphics processing control information includes correction information for at least one item of information relating to contrast, brightness, color balance, saturation, sharpness, memory color, and noise reduction.   
   
   
       8 . A graphics processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said graphics processing control information is stored with the graphics data within one graphics file.   
   
   
       9 . A method for performing graphics processing on graphics data with graphics processing control information for use during image quality correction of graphics data, the graphics processing control information being related to the graphics data, said method comprising steps of:
 analyzing said graphics data;   acquiring image quality property information that indicates a property pertaining to an image quality of said graphics data; and   adjusting the image quality of said graphics data based on said graphics processing control information and said image quality property information.   
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said image quality property information is a combination of a plurality of image quality parameter values that indicate image quality properties of said graphics data; and   said adjusting step includes adjusting the image quality of said graphics data so as to reflect said graphics processing control information.   
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said image quality property information is a combination of a plurality of image quality parameter values indicating image quality properties of said graphics data;   said adjusting step includes using standard image quality parameter values serving as a basis for image quality adjustment, respective of said standard image quality parameter values being predetermined for each of said image quality parameter values; and   said adjusting step includes calculating, on the basis of said standard image quality parameter values and said image quality parameter values, a level of correction for correcting said graphics data, increasing or decreasing said level of correction on the basis of an analysis result of said graphics processing control information, and adjusting said graphics data to reflect an increased or decreased level of correction.   
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said adjusting step includes increasing or decreasing the level of correction made based on the analysis result and correcting said standard image quality parameter values based on the analysis result.   
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said adjusting step includes increasing or decreasing the level of correction made based on the analysis result and by determining an appropriate level of correction based on the analysis result.   
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said graphics processing control information includes correction information for at least one item of information relating to contrast, brightness, color balance, saturation, sharpness, memory color, and noise reduction.   
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said graphics processing control information is stored with the graphics data within one graphics file.   
   
   
       16 . A graphics data generating device for generating graphics data for use in an output device that outputs graphics data subjected to image quality adjustment processing, said graphics data generating device comprising:
 a graphics data input mechanism configured to receive graphics data to subsequently be output by said output device;   an image quality adjustment processing condition designating mechanism configured to designate a condition for image quality adjustment processing of said graphics data performed by said output device;   an image quality adjustment data generation mechanism configured to generate image quality adjustment data, based on said condition for image quality adjustment processing designated by said image quality adjustment processing condition designating mechanism; and   a graphics data output mechanism configured to output said input graphics data related to image quality adjustment data.   
   
   
       17 . A graphics data generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said image quality adjustment data is data for correcting a standard image quality parameter used as a basis for image quality adjustment processing in image quality adjustment processing by said output device.   
   
   
       18 . A graphics data generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said image quality adjustment data is a standard image quality parameter value used as a standard value for image quality adjustment processing in image quality adjustment processing by said output device.   
   
   
       19 . A graphics data generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said image quality adjustment data is a combination of a plurality of standard image quality parameter values corresponding to image quality parameters representing image quality of said graphics data, and used as standard values for image quality adjustment processing by said output device.   
   
   
       20 . A graphics data generating device according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said image quality adjustment data is data for designating an appropriate level of correction for correcting said graphics data calculated on the basis of a standard image quality parameter value used as a standard value for image quality adjustment processing by said output device and an image quality parameter value representing image quality of said graphics data.