Abstract: Disclosed is a printing system suitable for use at photo studio(s) and permitting printing of color photograph(s) as desired by user(s). Client machine(s) 5A, 5B may acquire photo image(s) from digital camera(s) 6 and may carry out editing (retouching and/or print layout/design editing) of photo image(s). At the start of editing, working color profile(s) may be set for photo image(s) editing operations, and color matching may be carried out on photo image(s) using color profile(s) for digital camera(s) 6 and working color profile(s). During editing, such photo image(s) may be displayed at monitor(s), at which time color matching may be carried out on such photo image(s) using monitor color profile(s) and color profile(s) for such photo image(s). After editing is completed, edited photo image(s) and working color profile(s) for same may be sent to print server machine(s) 2.

Abstract: Provided is color printing technology capable of accommodating variation(s) in printer color space(s). User(s) may place test pattern printout(s) 336 and test pattern master sheet(s) 337 next to each other on platen(s) of image scanner(s) 338, and may cause image scanner(s) 338 to scan such printout(s) 336 and master sheet(s) 337 in a single image scanning run. Captured image data output from image scanner(s) 338 may be acquired by print server machine(s) 2 and may be uploaded to center server machine(s) 8.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing system suitable for use at photo studio(s) and permitting printing of color photograph(s) as desired by user(s). Client machine(s) 5A, 5B may acquire photo image(s) from digital camera(s) 6 and may carry out editing (retouching and/or print layout/design editing) of photo image(s). At the start of editing, working color profile(s) may be set for photo image(s) editing operations, and color matching may be carried out on photo image(s) using color profile(s) for digital camera(s) 6 and working color profile(s). During editing, such photo image(s) may be displayed at monitor(s), at which time color matching may be carried out on such photo image(s) using monitor color profile(s) and color profile(s) for such photo image(s). After editing is completed, edited photo image(s) and working color profile(s) for same may be sent to print server machine(s) 2.

Abstract: The technique of the invention retrieves any print job of redundant image data having identical image identification data with the image identification data of an object job, which is specified among print jobs stored in a print server, deletes image data present on a reference path of the retrieved print job, and overwrites the reference path of the retrieved print job with a reference path of the object job. The print job in which the image data was deleted is executed by utilizing the common reference path to read remaining image data and converting the image data into print data printable with a printer. This arrangement desirably prevents identical image data from being stored redundantly and thereby effectively saves the storage capacity of print jobs.

Abstract: The image processing technique of the invention receives an input image with an ID of a digital camera used for taking the input image (step S100) and performs color adjustment of the input image (step S110). The technique then specifies a color difference between an original image prior to the color adjustment and a resulting color-adjusted image after the color adjustment and generates a color correction profile based on the specified color difference (step S140). The generated color correction profile is stored in mapping to the ID of the digital camera (step S150). In response to input of each image with the ID of the digital camera, the generated color correction profile is attached to the each input image.

Abstract: A color correction profile is generated, based on a color difference between an original image prior to arbitrary color adjustment and a resulting color-adjusted image. The generated color correction profile is stored in mapping to an ID of a digital camera used for taking the image. The profile attachment technique of the invention receives each input image, sets an ID of a digital camera included in the input image as a key of retrieval, and retrieves a color correction profile stored in mapping to the ID of the digital camera (step S210). When any color correction profile is retrieved successfully corresponding to the ID of the digital camera, the retrieved color correction profile is attached to the image (step S230).

Abstract: Each print job received from a client computer 30 is divided into minimum printing units as divisional jobs, which are stored in a job folder 23b. When either of an upper spooler 23d and a lower spooler 23e has any vacancy for next allocation, one divisional job is allocated to a printer corresponding to the spooler having the vacancy. The name of the printer that has received allocation of the divisional job is written into the job folder 23b. When any allocated divisional job having an identical image file name and an identical customer ID with those of a current object divisional job is present in the job folder 23b, the current object divisional job is allocated to the printer, to which the allocated divisional job has been allocated. This arrangement allocates multiple divisional jobs for printing an identical image demanded from an identical customer to the same printer, thus ensuring substantially equal quality of resulting printed images.

Abstract: In photo studio system 10, a count which represents a number of printing operations with regard to each of the printer 40 and 50 is reset to zero in response to successful establishment of connection of a print server 20 with the management server 70. The printer 40 and 50 are allowed to continuously carry out printing operations as long as the count is reset to zero before reaching the preset value. On the other hand, failed establishment of connection with the management server 70 causes the count to reach the preset value and imposes restrictions on the printing operations with regard to each of the printer 40 and 50. Each of the printers is not allowed to continue printing operations over a long time period in the state of disconnection from the management server. This arrangement desirably prevents the management server from suffering significant losses.

Abstract: In response to selection of a desired paper material for printing among multiple paper materials settable in a printer, a system generates a print job and outputs the generated print job to a print job execution device, even when the selected paper material is not coincident with any of paper materials currently set in the printer. The print job execution device keeps the print job with the selected paper material, which is not currently set in the printer, in a standby state and executes the print job when the selected paper material is set in the printer.

Abstract: Operations wherein print layout(s) is or are edited and print job(s) is or are created are made capable of being carried out efficiently. In template mode, apportionment of image(s) is ordinarily carried out with template(s) being set for each individual page. Group(s) are closed for each page. Package(s) may be such that a plurality of templates are treated as a single pack (multiple pages), and group(s) within package(s) may be such that all are treated as if it or they are the same group(s), the same image(s) being assignable thereto. List(s) (dropdown list(s)) of name(s) of template(s) corresponding to print media size(s) specified at media/printer selection area 146 may be displayed at screen(s) which is or are presented when package(s) is or are employed. Layout editor(s) obtain such template information (dropdown list(s)) from print server machine(s).

Abstract: A printing system includes a computer system to receive a digital image. A server computer, connected to the computer system, receives the digital image transmitted from the computer system. At least one printer is connected to the server computer to print the digital image. A remote monitoring server, having a connection with the server computer, monitors conditions of at least one of the server computer and the at least one printer. The remote monitoring server is operated by a lessor, and the server computer and the at least one printer are leased out to an end user under a lease agreement.

Abstract: Provided is photo retouching software which is easy for photo studio personnel to use. Upon opening photo image(s), special photo retoucher 11 converts photo image data thereof to working color space image data. At such time(s), if working ICC profile(s) is/are set which is/are different from ICC profile(s) previously embedded in such photo image file(s), color perceptual matching is carried out on the photo image data thereof based on such embedded ICC profile(s) and working ICC profile(s) when such photo image file(s) is/are opened. Furthermore, when such photo image(s) is/are displayed at monitor(s), such image data is converted to monitor color space image data through color matching using working ICC profile(s) and monitor ICC profile(s).

Abstract: Code conversion tables for some major language spheres are stored in a ROM 13 in a printer. Pattern information of all kinds of characters, discriminately represented by their internal codes, are stored in a character generator 15. For code conversion tables for other language spheres than major language spheres, the definition information of each code conversion table is registered in an EEPROM 17 in the printer, from a host device. The definition information of a code conversion table may be prepared by defining the internal codes corresponding to all of the external codes. The definition information may also be prepared in such a way that a code conversion table is selected from among the code conversion tables stored in the ROM 13 and used as a base code conversion table, and only information of the code conversion table which is different from that of the base code conversion table, is defined.

Abstract: An ink jet printer including a recording device for jetting ink droplets from a printer head while moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of a recording medium in the form of a sheet, to form a dot image on the recording medium according to an input time. The ink jet printer further includes a conveying mechanism, including a gate roller that performs an intermittent feed operation at a speed corresponding to the pixel density of a character or pattern recorded on the recording medium; and a roller provided downstream of the recording device, the roller being operated after the rear edge of the recording medium passes through the conveying mechanism located upstream of the recording device, to convey the recording medium while in contact with the dot image forming surface of the recording medium, the roller being movable into and out of engagement with the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprising a recording device for jetting ink droplets from a printer head while moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of a recording medium in the form of a sheet, to form a dot image on the recording medium according to an input time, further including a pair of sheet retaining devices respectively arranged before and behind in the direction of travel of the recording device, where one of the pair of sheet retaining devices arranged before in the direction of travel is displaced to push against the recording medium in order to form a predetermined clearance between the printer head and the recording medium, while the other is displaced to leave from the recording medium.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer having a sheet conveying mechanism which changes the speed of conveyance of a recording sheet in accordance with the density of characters or a pattern to be printed to intermittently convey the recording sheet in such a manner that all printed portions are properly dried before the sheet is conveyed to a subsequent position. The recording head of the printer performs a printing operation while pushing the front end portion of the recording sheet against the platen with a sheet retaining lever.

Abstract: A character pattern generation apparatus for a serial printer, comprises an input buffer for storing a character code and attribute data; contour data storing means for storing contour data representing a contour of a pattern correspondingly to the character code, the contour data including starting point coordinate data, end point coordinate data, and line type data; means for reading the contour data from the contour data storing means according to the character code stored in the input buffer; operation means for calculating new starting point coordinate data and new end point coordinate data, according to the degree of magnification which is designated by the attribute data, the starting point coordinate data and the end point coordinate data, to output coordinates of a starting point and coordinates of an end point, the starting point and end point being in a current pass area; contour reproducing means for joining the coordinates of the starting point with the coordinates of the end point output from th