Abstract: A color test pattern comprising color patches can be printed together with an image (text and/or a pictures, for example) of a print job. After printing, reflections, known as flare, from the image may adversely affect measurements taken of the color patches. To help reduce the effects of flare, a determination is made prior to printing as to the layout of the color patches. The determination involves comparing the color properties of the color patches with those of the image.

Abstract: A print management method implemented in a system including a client computer, a server, and a plurality of printers is disclosed, which includes by the server: (a) receiving, from the client computer, a request relating to a print job; (b) determining whether the print job has a reprint related setting, the reprint related setting being a request to save data related to color imaging for the print job and/or a request to reprint a prior print job; when it is determined that the print job has the reprint related setting to save data related to color imaging; (c) determining at least one printer which has an in-line spectrophotometer from the plurality of printers; (d) determining at least one page to be measured as a target; and (e) sending the print job to the at least one printer so that the determined page is measured as the target.

Abstract: A print management method implemented in a system including a client computer, a server, and a plurality of printers is disclosed, which includes by the server: (a) receiving, from a client computer, a request relating to a print job; (b) determining whether a predetermined print quality is required for the print job; (c) filtering at least two printers each of which has an in-line spectrophotometer from the plurality of printers; (d) instructing the each filtered at least two printers to conduct a color validation process by using the in-line spectrophotometer; (e) receiving, from the each filtered at least two printers, a result corresponding to the color validation process by the in-line spectrophotometer; and (f) determining at least one candidate of a destination printer for the print job based on whether the each filtered at least two printers meets predetermined print quality, using the result corresponding to the color validation process.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium are disclosed for a first printer connected to a second printer to perform color calibration for the second printer, wherein the second printer does not have a sensor, the first printer including a sensor which measures a media, which has been printed by the second printer and is being fed on a media path of the first printer. The method includes (a) determining the timing to instruct the second printer to print a first measurement chart; (b) instructing, at the timing determined at step (a), the second printer to print the first measurement chart; (c) measuring, by the sensor, the first measurement chart which has been printed by the second printer; and (d) outputting information corresponding to a result measured at step (c).

Abstract: A method, a system, and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium are disclosed for a first printer connected to a second printer to perform color calibration for the second printer, wherein the second printer does not have a sensor, the first printer including a sensor which measures a media, which has been printed by the second printer and is being fed on a media path of the first printer. The method includes (a) determining the timing to instruct the second printer to print a first measurement chart; (b) instructing, at the timing determined at step (a), the second printer to print the first measurement chart; (c) measuring, by the sensor, the first measurement chart which has been printed by the second printer; and (d) outputting information corresponding to a result measured at step (c).

Abstract: A server, system, and method are disclosed for ensuring uniform level of color of distributed print jobs, wherein each of the plurality of printers is configured to conduct color validation and/or color calibration based on a first criterion. The server having a processor configured to: receive, from a client computer, a request relating to a print job; determine whether the received print job is a split job, which can be split amongst the plurality of the printers; filter at least two printers each having an in-line spectrophotometer from the plurality of printers; and instruct to the each filtered at least two printers so that color validation and/or color calibration is performed based on a second criterion by using the in-line spectrophotometer, wherein the second criterion causes color validation and/or color calibration at each of the each filtered at least two printers to be performed earlier than the first criterion.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a display and a CPU that is configured to: select, as a group, a plurality of moving images as a group of target moving images to be played back simultaneously or in sequence; specify a plurality of spatial or temporal playback relationships for playing back the group of target moving images simultaneously or in sequence; generate a plurality of groups of thumbnails representing the plurality of specified spatial or temporal playback relationships, such that each group of thumbnails includes one thumbnail corresponding to each of the target moving images to be played back, and such that each group of thumbnails visually represents a respective one of the specified the spatial or temporal playback relationships; and display the plurality of groups of thumbnails representing the plurality of specified spatial or temporal playback relationships.

Abstract: A server, system, and method are disclosed for ensuring uniform level of color of distributed print jobs, wherein each of the plurality of printers is configured to conduct color validation and/or color calibration based on a first criterion. The server having a processor configured to: receive, from a client computer, a request relating to a print job; determine whether the received print job is a split job, which can be split amongst the plurality of the printers; filter at least two printers each having an in-line spectrophotometer from the plurality of printers; and instruct to the each filtered at least two printers so that color validation and/or color calibration is performed based on a second criterion by using the in-line spectrophotometer, wherein the second criterion causes color validation and/or color calibration at each of the each filtered at least two printers to be performed earlier than the first criterion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a method, and a computer readable medium are disclosed for generating color patches for color validation of a print engine of an image forming apparatus. The method includes acquiring a validation result on a first color validation chart with a sensing device, the sensing device configured to read a color validation chart, the color validation chart having one or more color patches, and wherein the validation result compares a color accuracy of each of the one or more color patches from the first color validation chart to a target color; and determining an order of each of the color patches in a second color validation chart to be printed based on the validation result on the first color validation chart, wherein the order of the color patches in the second color validation chart is determined based on color patches that do not match the target color.

Abstract: An information output device includes an output unit, a recognition unit and a control unit. The output unit outputs a content. The recognition unit recognizes a user. The control unit (i) determines whether the content currently being output by the output unit is suitable for the recognized user, thereby producing a determination result and (ii) changes, on the basis of the determination result, the current output content to a content having the same substance as the current output content but a different playback time from the current output content.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a method, and a computer readable medium are disclosed for generating color patches for color validation of a print engine of an image forming apparatus. The method includes acquiring a validation result on a first color validation chart with a sensing device, the sensing device configured to read a color validation chart, the color validation chart having one or more color patches, and wherein the validation result compares a color accuracy of each of the one or more color patches from the first color validation chart to a target color; and determining an order of each of the color patches in a second color validation chart to be printed based on the validation result on the first color validation chart, wherein the order of the color patches in the second color validation chart is determined based on color patches that do not match the target color.

Abstract: An electric resistance welding operation management device manages a welding operation during manufacture of electric resistance welded steel pipe, in which heat is input to a steel plate, that is being conveyed along a specific conveyance direction and formed into a circular tube shape while pressing side faces of the metal plate with a pair of squeeze rolls, to weld together two circumferential direction edge portions of the metal plate converging in a V-shape. The electric resistance welding operation management device includes an image input section that inputs plural images and each including a Vee convergence region of the steel plate. The electric resistance welding operation management device includes a welding point position derivation section that derives the position of a welding point.

Abstract: A content reproduction system includes a reproduction unit configured to reproduce content related to a plurality of commodities, an obtaining unit configured to obtain a sales condition corresponding to the plurality of commodities, a setting unit configured to previously set sales targets and weighting information, related to reproduction in the reproduction unit, with respect to the plurality of commodities, and a control unit configured to variably adjust a reproduction state of the content, related to the plurality of commodities to be reproduced by the reproduction unit, in accordance with the sales target and the weighting information set by the setting unit and the sales condition obtained by the obtaining unit.

Abstract: According to a digital signage apparatus, when an instruction for switching of content output on an image formation unit is provided by a switch button on an operation unit, a control unit evaluates the content based on the switch operation. Specifically, when the switch button is pressed during the output of the content by the image formation unit, the control unit gives a minus evaluation point to the section of the content being output at the time of the switch operation.

Abstract: A master camera sets temporary conditions at the time of executing photographing by a plurality of cameras, determines whether photographing by the plurality of cameras can be executed under the temporary conditions, sets actual conditions at the time of executing photographing by the plurality of cameras in accordance with this determination result, and executes control such that photographing by the plurality of cameras is executed under the actual conditions.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (1) according to the present invention includes a layer combining unit (11a) that generates a print image based on print data including a plurality of layers, a determining unit (11b) that determines whether objects included in different layers overlap each other in a single pixel constituting the print image, and a selecting unit (11c) that selects image processing to be performed with respect to the single pixel according to a combination of attribute information for each of the layers assigned to the single pixel, when the objects overlap each other in the corresponding single pixel.

Abstract: An information output device includes an output unit, a recognition unit and a control unit. The output unit outputs a content. The recognition unit recognizes a user. The control unit (i) determines whether the content currently being output by the output unit is suitable for the recognized user, thereby producing a determination result and (ii) changes, on the basis of the determination result, the current output content to a content having the same substance as the current output content but a different playback time from the current output content.

Abstract: A method of creating a sample page in an image system, the method includes: a step of holding a color measurement result of a colorimeter, with respect to an output image of a special color, as a history color measurement result; a step of determining whether a creation condition of the sample page is satisfied; and a step of creating the sample page having a first color sample image and a second color sample image formed on a recording medium, the first color sample image being according to printer device values calculated based on the history color measurement result of the special color, and the second color sample image being according to printer device values of the special color determined from a special color table, when the creation condition of the sample page is determined to be satisfied.

Abstract: An operation management device performs an operation management for electric resistance welding in which a strip-shaped metal plate is formed to have a cylindrical shape in such a manner that both end portions of the metal plate gradually face each other while the metal plate is conveyed, and a Vee convergence section, which is a portion at which both of the end portions butt against each other while facing each other, is welded.

Abstract: A camera is provided with an imaging element, and detects a timing of blinking of light which blinks periodically at a reference timing, based on a timing of variation in luminance of an image obtained by the imaging element, wherein the image is taken by the imaging element under a condition that the light blinks periodically at the reference timing. Further, the timing of exposure of the imaging element is adjusted based on the detected timing of the blinking light, thereby synchronizing shooting operations of plural cameras with each other.