Information processing apparatus, image generating method, and storage medium

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a latent image generating unit configured to generate a latent image;

a background image generating unit configured to generate a background image that serves as a background of the latent image; and

a print image generating unit configured to generate a print image including the latent image and the background image,

wherein the latent image generating unit is configured to

generate the latent image using both of a first color component to be printed with a first color material and second color components to be printed with second color materials having an optical property different from an optical property of the first color material, or

generate the latent image using only the second color components;

wherein the background image generating unit is configured to

generate the background image using only the second color components when the latent image generating unit uses both of the first color component and the second color components, and

generate the background image using both of the first color component and the second color components when the latent image generating unit uses only the second color components; and

wherein the latent image generating unit and the background image generating unit are configured to generate the latent image and the background image using the first color component and the second color components such that the latent image and the background image in the print image are printed in substantially a same color.

2. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a color proportion adjusting unit configured to adjust a proportion per unit area of the first color component used for the latent image or the background image.

3. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a dot pattern selecting unit configured to determine whether an isolated or quasi-isolated dot pattern or a non-isolated dot pattern is used to arrange dots of the latent image generated using the first color component.

4. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a color-component value correction unit,

wherein the latent image generating unit is configured to generate the latent image using both of the first color component and the second color component;

wherein the background image generating unit is configured to convert values of the first color component and the second color components used to generate each dot of the latent image into values of the second color components used to generate each dot of the background image; and

wherein the color-component value correction unit is configured to correct a relationship between the value of the first color component used for each dot of the latent image and the values of the second color components used for each dot of the background image based on predetermined condition information.

5. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first color material is a K color material and the second color materials are CMY color materials.

6. A method performed by an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

generating a latent image;

generating a background image that serves as a background of the latent image; and

generating a print image including the latent image and the background image,

wherein the latent image is generated

using both of a first color component to be printed with a first color material and second color components to be printed with second color materials having an optical property different from an optical property of the first color material, or

using only the second color components;

wherein the background image is generated

using only the second color components when the latent image is generated using both of the first color component and the second color components, or

using both of the first color component and the second color components when the latent image is generated using only the second color components; and

wherein the latent image and the background image are generated using the first color component and the second color components such that the latent image and the background image in the print image are printed in substantially a same color.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

adjusting a proportion per unit area of the first color component used for the latent image or the background image.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

determining whether an isolated or quasi-isolated dot pattern or a non-isolated dot pattern is used to arrange dots of the latent image generated using the first color component.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 ,

wherein the latent image is generated using both of the first color component and the second color component;

wherein values of the first color component and the second color components used to generate each dot of the latent image are converted into values of the second color components used to generate each dot of the background image; and

wherein a relationship between the value of the first color component used for each dot of the latent image and the values of the second color components used for each dot of the background image is corrected based on predetermined condition information.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first color material is a K color material and the second color materials are CMY color materials.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

generating a latent image;

generating a background image that serves as a background of the latent image; and

generating a print image including the latent image and the background image,

wherein the latent image is generated

using both of a first color component to be printed with a first color material and second color components to be printed with second color materials having an optical property different from an optical property of the first color material, or

using only the second color components;

wherein the background image is generated

using only the second color components when the latent image is generated using both of the first color component and the second color components, or

using both of the first color component and the second color components when the latent image is generated using only the second color components; and

wherein the latent image and the background image are generated using the first color component and the second color components such that the latent image and the background image in the print image are printed in substantially a same color.

12. The storage medium as claimed in claim 11 , the method further comprising:

adjusting a proportion per unit area of the first color component used for the latent image or the background image.

13. The storage medium as claimed in claim 11 , the method further comprising:

determining whether an isolated or quasi-isolated dot pattern or a non-isolated dot pattern is used to arrange dots of the latent image generated using the first color component.

14. The storage medium as claimed in claim 11 ,

wherein the latent image is generated using both of the first color component and the second color component;

wherein values of the first color component and the second color components used to generate each dot of the latent image are converted into values of the second color components used to generate each dot of the background image; and

wherein a relationship between the value of the first color component used for each dot of the latent image and the values of the second color components used for each dot of the background image is corrected based on predetermined condition information.

15. The storage medium as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first color material is a K color material and the second color materials are CMY color materials.