JP2006330854A - Printer control device, printer control method, printer control program and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the image quality deterioration of a watermark printed. <P>SOLUTION: A PC 10 which operates as the printer control device making a printer execute processing for superposing and printing a water mark on a print object image to be printed on a paper comprises a mark area setting part 209 and a mark print command generation part 210. The mark area setting part 209 sets an area inside the periphery of the print area of the print object image on the paper as a mark print area, and the mark print command generation part 210 has the function of making the printer print the watermark while limiting the print position of the watermark within the mark print area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer control apparatus that controls a printer, a printer control method, a printer control program, and a computer-readable recording medium that records the control program.

  Conventionally, when a printer prints an image (hereinafter referred to as “print target image”) created by an application of a PC (Personal Computer) or the like, the user sets a watermark in the printer driver of the PC. The watermark can be printed on the image to be printed. Here, a watermark (sometimes referred to as a “stamp mark”) is a mark composed of a character string such as “important” or “confidential”, or a mark composed of a pictorial diagram represented by a bitmap image. This means a mark that is printed over the target image. In addition, the technique regarding the printing of such a watermark is disclosed by patent document 1 shown below, for example.

  Usually, the printing position of the watermark with respect to the printing area of the image to be printed on the paper is determined by the user. This point will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a watermark setting GUI 500 included in a printer driver property setting GUI (Graphical User Interface).

  As shown in FIG. 11, the watermark setting GUI 500 shows a rectangle 550 indicating the print area of the print target image. The user can move the watermark displayed in the rectangle 550 by controlling the scroll bars 560 and 570 using a pointing device or the like. Then, the watermark and the print target image are overlaid and printed so that the positional relationship of the watermark with respect to the rectangle 550 matches the positional relationship of the print area of the watermark with respect to the print area of the print target image. That is, the user can place the watermark at any position and print within the print area of the print target image on the paper.

Further, such a watermark can be set even when performing borderless printing as disclosed in Patent Document 2. Here, “borderless printing” means that an image is printed over the entire surface of one side of the paper. For example, the borderless printing is performed when a poster is created by printing a photographic image over one side of a sheet.
JP 2000-71547 A (publication date: March 7, 2000) JP 2003-296069 A (publication date: October 17, 2003)

  Also, in an image forming apparatus, since various settings and setups are normally performed based on printing a bordered image, when performing borderless printing, the image printed near the edge of the paper is the center of the paper. There is a phenomenon that the image quality is slightly deteriorated as compared with an image printed in the vicinity.

  However, when borderless printing is performed on a photographic image, the above-described deterioration in the vicinity of the paper edge is not a problem. This is because the above-mentioned deterioration is not conspicuous because there are few image edge portions for photographic images.

  However, when setting the above-mentioned watermark during borderless printing, the watermark may be printed so as to reach the vicinity of the edge of the paper, but the watermark is a character image or graphic image with many image edge portions. In many cases, the image quality degradation of the watermark printed near the edge of the paper is conspicuous.

  Here, unlike the above-described print image target that is the main print target, the watermark is an image that is additionally printed, so it only needs to be printed over the print target image, and borderless printing can be performed. Even if it is performed, the printing position on the paper is not originally limited.

  Therefore, when performing borderless printing on an image to be printed, it is preferable to suppress degradation of image quality by printing the watermark around the edge of the paper.

  However, in the conventional printer and printer driver, as shown in FIG. 11, the user designates an arbitrary position within the print area of the desired print image as the watermark print position. Therefore, for example, if the print area of the image to be printed on the paper reaches the edge of the paper by performing the above-described borderless printing, a watermark may be printed near the edge of the paper. The image quality of the watermark will be deteriorated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer control apparatus that can suppress deterioration in image quality of a mark image that is printed over a print target image.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printer control apparatus that causes a printer to execute a process of superimposing a print target image and a mark image on a paper and printing the print target image on the paper. Mark area setting means for setting an area inside the periphery of the mark as a mark development area, mark print control means for restricting the print position of the mark image to the mark development area and causing the printer to print the mark image , Including.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer control method that causes a printer to execute a process of superimposing a print target image and a mark image on a sheet and printing the area on the sheet, the inner side of the print area of the print target image. And a step of restricting the print position of the mark image within the mark development region and causing the printer to print the mark image.

  According to the above configuration, when the print target image and the mark image are superimposed and printed on the paper, the print area of the mark image on the paper is inside the periphery of the print area of the print target image on the paper. Limited to As a result, regardless of the position and size of the print area of the image to be printed on the paper, it is possible to suppress the situation in which the mark image is printed to the edge of the paper, and to suppress deterioration in the image quality of the printed mark image. Play.

  Note that the mark image means an image such as a so-called watermark, stamp mark, or the like, and an image showing a mark to be printed superimposed on the print target image. An image to be printed is an image created for the purpose of printing on paper, images created by various applications (document creation software, drawing software, etc.), images taken with a digital camera, It means an image read by a scanner.

  In addition, in the above-described “printing the print target image and the mark image on the paper in an overlapping manner”, the mark image is printed on the print target image printed on the paper and the mark image is printed on the paper. And the case where the image to be printed is printed over the mark image.

  As a form of the print control apparatus according to the present invention, (a) a function of each unit of the print control apparatus is provided in a computer (PC) that is configured separately from the printer and is connected to the printer via a LAN. (B) a mode in which a computer installed in the printer executes the functions of the respective units of the print control apparatus, (c) a configuration separate from the printer and connected to the printer via a LAN It is conceivable to have a computer that executes a part of the functions of each unit in the printing control apparatus and a computer that is implemented in the printer execute the remaining functions.

  The connection form between the printer and the computer is not limited to LAN connection, and is not limited as long as it is a known connection form. For example, a connection by USB (Universal Serial Bus), a connection by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1284, or a connection by IEEE 1394 may be used.

  In addition to the above configuration, the print control apparatus of the present invention preferably includes a borderless print control unit that causes the printer to perform the borderless printing of the print target image.

  According to the above configuration, the image to be printed is printed on the paper without borders, but the print position of the mark image is limited to an area inside the periphery of the print area of the image to be printed. Even if the target image is borderless printed so as to reach the end of the paper, it is possible to suppress the situation where the watermark is printed until it reaches the end of one side of the paper.

  Furthermore, in addition to the above-described configuration, the print control apparatus of the present invention enlarges the print target image so that the entire size of one side of the paper matches the size of the print target image, and sends the enlarged print target image to the printer. It may be configured to print.

  According to the above configuration, the print target image is enlarged so that the entire size of one side of the paper matches the size of the print target image. Even if the print target image is enlarged, the mark image is printed. Since the range is limited to the mark development area, the mark image is not affected by the enlargement, and the situation where the mark image is printed until the end of the sheet can be suppressed.

  In the print control apparatus of the present invention, the mark print control means adjusts the size of the mark image in accordance with the size of the mark development area, and causes the printer to print the mark image of the adjusted size. May be.

  According to the above configuration, the size of the mark image to be printed is adjusted according to the size of the mark development area. Therefore, if the size of the mark image is adjusted so that the entire mark image is within the mark development area, it is possible to print the mark image with the print position of the mark image being limited within the mark development area. It becomes.

  Further, in the printing control apparatus of the present invention, the mark printing control means instructs the printer to clip the mark image so that the mark image is not printed in an area other than the mark development area on the paper. There may be.

  According to the above configuration, since the mark image is clipped so that the mark image does not protrude from the mark development area on the paper, the mark image is not printed out of the mark development area. It is possible to print the mark image by limiting the print position of the mark image within the mark development area. However, in this case, the mark image may be printed on the paper in a state where a part to be printed is partially missing.

  In the printer control apparatus of the present invention, the mark print control means may control the printer so that a plurality of the same mark images are printed side by side in the mark development area.

  According to the above configuration, even when a plurality of the same mark images are printed side by side on the paper, the print position of the mark image is limited within the mark development area, so the mark image is printed to the edge of the paper. Can be suppressed.

  Further, in addition to the above configuration, the printer control apparatus of the present invention includes a display unit and a display control for displaying a preview image on the display unit when the print target image and the mark image are printed on a sheet. And means.

  According to the above-described configuration, the user can confirm the print position of the mark image with respect to the print target image printed on the paper before printing is performed, thereby improving the operability of the user.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the printer control device of the present invention includes a display unit and a display control unit that displays an image indicating the position or size of the mark development area with respect to the print area of the print target image on the display unit. And means.

  According to the above configuration, since the user can recognize the position or size of the mark development area with respect to the print area of the print target image, the user can confirm the printable range of the mark image on the paper. can do.

  Furthermore, the printer control apparatus of the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, a printer control program for causing the printer control apparatus to be realized by the computer by causing the computer to operate as each of the above means is also provided. A computer-readable recording medium in which the control program is recorded falls within the category of the present invention.

  As described above, the printer control apparatus according to the present invention includes the mark area setting means for setting the area inside the print area of the print target image on the paper as the mark development area, and the print position of the mark image. And a mark printing control unit that causes the printer to print the mark image within the mark development area.

  As a result, regardless of the position and size of the print area of the image to be printed on the paper, it is possible to suppress the situation in which the mark image is printed to the edge of the paper, and to suppress deterioration in the image quality of the printed mark image. Play.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printing system of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing system 100 includes a PC (printer control device) 10 and a printer 20 connected to the PC 10. The PC 10 and the printer 20 are connected via a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The PC 10 is an information processing apparatus that creates and stores print target data (a data file indicating a print target image such as a document, photo, picture, or drawing) in accordance with a user instruction. The PC 10 is installed with an application 14 such as word processing software, image processing software, and drawing software for creating and processing the print target data, and an OS (Operating System) 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the OS 11 includes a printer driver 12 and a data transmission / reception unit 13.

  The printer driver 12 receives print target data created by the application 14, and generates a print job including various commands (instructions) for causing the printer 20 to print an image (print target image) corresponding to the print target data. To do. The data transmission / reception unit 13 receives a print job generated by the printer driver 12 and transmits the print job to the printer 20. The printer 20 is a printing apparatus that receives a print job transmitted from the data transmission / reception unit 13 and prints an image on a sheet in accordance with various commands included in the print job.

  In the PC 10 described above, when the user inputs a print setting instruction while the application 14 is being executed, the printer driver 12 is activated. When the printer driver 12 is activated, a print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on a monitor (not shown) of the PC 10. The user can set or select various printing conditions (paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, number of copies, borderless printing mode, mark printing mode, etc.) from this screen.

  Further, when the user inputs a print confirmation instruction to the PC 10, the printer driver 12 receives the print target data from the application 14 and responds to the print target data with the print conditions set in the print condition setting screen (FIG. 3). A print job including a command indicating an instruction to print an image to be generated is generated. That is, this command includes the contents of the printing conditions and the print target data. A print job including this command is transmitted to the printer 20 via the data transmission / reception unit 13.

  Then, the printer 20 prints an image (print target image) corresponding to the print target data included in the command on a sheet according to the information indicating the print condition included in the command. In this way, in the present embodiment, an image corresponding to the print target data generated by the application 14 is printed on the paper.

  By the way, in the printer driver 12 of this embodiment, it is possible to set the mark printing mode. The “mark print mode” refers to a mode in which the printer 20 prints an image in which a watermark (mark image) is superimposed on an image corresponding to print target data generated by the application 14. Furthermore, in the printer driver 12 of this embodiment, it is also possible to set a borderless printing mode. The “borderless printing mode” means a mode in which an image is printed over the entire surface of one side of a sheet so as not to form a so-called margin area (border) or the like around the image printed on one side of the sheet. For example, when creating a poster, this “borderless printing mode” is often used.

  Next, details of processing executed by the printer driver 12 when the above-described “mark printing mode” and “borderless printing mode” are set will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing various functions included in the printer driver 12.

  The printer driver 12 includes a display control unit 201, a communication unit 202, a printing condition information holding unit 203, a print target data holding unit 204, a borderless region storage table 205, a borderless region setting unit 206, an image print command generation unit 207, a mark The configuration includes an area storage table 208, a mark area setting unit 209, and a mark print command generation unit 210.

  The display control unit 201 performs control to display a print condition setting screen on a monitor (not shown) of the PC 10 before executing the printing process. Further, when setting the mark print mode, the display control unit 201 displays the mark setting screen on the monitor. It is a block that performs display control.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the print condition setting screen displayed on the monitor of the PC 10, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the mark setting screen displayed on the monitor of the PC 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the print condition setting screen is a GUI for allowing the user to select a print condition at the time of print processing. The printing conditions mean the number of copies in the printing process, the enlargement / reduction ratio of the image, the size of the paper used for the printing process, the setting of the borderless printing mode, the setting of the mark printing mode, and the like.

  Further, the mark setting screen is a GUI for allowing the user to select a printing condition related to the watermark as shown in FIG. The “printing conditions related to the watermark” include the text of the watermark to be printed (characters such as “confidential” and “important”), the character type of the watermark to be printed (Mincho, Gothic, Italic, etc.) This means the size of the watermark per font, the setting of the repeated print mode, and the like.

  Here, the “repetitive printing mode” means a mode in which a plurality of the same watermark is printed on the same sheet as shown in FIG. Note that a rectangle (dotted line) indicated by a reference symbol “a” in FIG. 6 indicates a mark printing area, which will be described later, and is shown for convenience of later explanation, and is actually printed on a sheet. It is not a thing.

  The communication unit 202 is a block that transmits and receives data and information to and from the application 14. Specifically, when the user inputs a print confirmation instruction to the PC 10, the communication unit 202 receives print target data from the application 14 and performs control to write the received print target data in the print target data holding unit 204. Further, the communication unit 202 receives from the application 14 print condition information indicating various conditions set and selected on the print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 3 and the mark setting screen shown in FIG. Is written in the printing condition information holding unit 203.

  The printing condition information holding unit 203 is a memory in which printing condition information sent from the application 14 is written. This print condition information includes image print condition information and mark print condition information. The image printing condition information is information indicating the size of the paper used at the time of printing, the presence / absence of setting of the borderless printing mode, the presence / absence of setting of the mark printing mode, etc., and the printing condition setting screen shown in FIG. Information indicating the conditions set in. Mark printing condition information is information indicating the text of the watermark to be printed (such as “Top Secret” or “Important”), the character type of the watermark (Mincho, Gothic, Italic, etc.), the size of one font of the watermark, etc. That is, the information indicates the conditions set on the mark setting screen shown in FIG.

  The print target data holding unit 204 is a memory in which print target data sent from the application 14 is written. That is, data indicating a print target image created by the application 14 is written in the print target data holding unit 204.

  The borderless area storage table 205 is a table that stores and holds borderless area information indicating the position and size of the print area of the print target image on the paper in the borderless print mode. Specifically, the borderless area storage table 205 stores paper size information indicating the paper size and borderless area information corresponding to the paper size in association with each paper size. Note that the borderless print area indicated by the borderless area information is set so as to indicate the entire sheet single side so that the print target image is printed on the entire sheet single side.

  A borderless area setting unit (borderless printing area setting unit) 206 is used for printing with reference to the image printing condition information written in the printing condition information holding unit 203 when the borderless printing mode is set. The borderless area information associated with the paper size information indicating the detected paper size is read from the borderless area storage table 205, and the borderless print area indicated by the read borderless area information is detected. Is set as the print area of the print target image. Therefore, the borderless printing area set here indicates the entire side of the sheet used for printing.

  The image print command generation unit 207 prints the print target image to the printer 20 based on the image print condition information held in the print condition information holding unit 203 and the print target data held in the print target data holding unit 204. An image print command as an instruction is generated. The image print command includes a print instruction for the printer 20, processing conditions (paper size, print position, size of image to be printed, number of copies, and the like), and print target data. Accordingly, the print target image is printed under the above-described processing conditions. Therefore, the image print command generation unit 207 corresponds to a block that controls the printer 20 to print the print target image.

  In addition, when the borderless printing mode is set, the image print command generation unit 207 performs printing so that the size of the borderless printing region set by the borderless region setting unit 206 matches the size of the print target image. The enlargement ratio and print position of the target image are determined, and an image print command is generated using the determined enlargement ratio and print position as the conditions for the above processing. Therefore, the image print command generation unit (borderless print control unit) 207 enlarges the print target image so that the size of the borderless print area matches the size of the print target image, and the enlarged print target image is displayed. That is, the printer 20 is controlled to perform borderless printing.

  The mark area storage table 208 stores and holds mark area information indicating the position and size of a watermark printing area (hereinafter referred to as “mark printing area”) on the paper in the mark printing mode. is there. Specifically, the mark area storage table 208 stores sheet size information indicating the sheet size and mark area information corresponding to the sheet size in association with each sheet size. Note that the position and size of the mark print area indicated in the mark area information is set so as to be located inside the periphery of one side of the paper and narrower than the whole side of the paper. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the rectangle α indicates the borderless printing region or the entire one side of the sheet, the rectangle β that is located inside the periphery of the rectangle α and is narrower than the rectangle α. Is the mark printing area.

  When the mark printing mode is set, the mark area setting unit (mark area setting unit) 209 refers to the image printing condition information written in the printing condition information holding unit 203 to determine the paper size used for printing. The detected mark area information associated with the paper size information indicating the detected paper size is read from the mark area storage table 208, and the mark print area indicated by the read mark area information is read as the watermark print area (mark expansion This block is set as an area.

  When the mark print mode is set, the mark print command generation unit 210 performs a mark print command which is a watermark print instruction to the printer 20 based on the mark print condition information held in the print condition information holding unit 203. Is a block that generates This mark print command indicates a watermark print instruction to the printer 20 and processing conditions (information indicating the size of one font of the watermark to be printed, the print position of the watermark, and the text of the watermark to be printed). In response to the mark print command, the printer 20 prints the watermark under the above processing conditions. Therefore, the mark print command generation unit 210 corresponds to a block that controls the printer 20 to print the watermark.

  In addition, the mark print command generation unit 210 adjusts the size and print position of one font of the watermark so that the watermark to be printed falls within the mark print area, and the adjusted size and print position are set in the above processing. A mark print command is generated as a condition. Therefore, the mark print command generation unit (mark print control means) 210 performs control to limit the print position of the watermark within the mark print area and cause the printer 20 to print the watermark. .

  In the above configuration, the image print command generated by the image print command generation unit 207 and the mark print command generated by the mark print command generation unit 210 are included in the print job and transmitted to the printer 20. Then, the printer 20 executes print processing according to the image print command and the mark print command.

  According to the above configuration, the borderless print area set in the borderless area setting unit 206 is an area where the entire surface of one sheet is the print target image print area, and mark printing set in the mark area setting unit 209 is performed. The area is located inside the peripheral edge of one side of the paper, and the area narrower than the whole side of the paper is used as a watermark printing area. Therefore, when the borderless print mode is set, the mark print area set in the mark area setting unit 209 is on the inner side of the periphery of the print area of the print target image on the paper, and the printing of the print target image is performed. The region is narrower than the region.

  Therefore, when the borderless printing mode is set, the image print command generation unit 207 controls the printer 20 so that the image to be printed is borderless printed over the entire surface of one side of the paper, while the mark print command generation unit 210. Performs control to cause the printer 20 to print the watermark by limiting the area within the periphery of the print area of the print target image on the paper and within the area narrower than the print area of the print target image. It will be.

  As a result, even when the borderless printing mode is set and the image to be printed is printed so as to reach the periphery (edge) of one side of the paper, the watermark is close to the periphery (edge) of one side of the paper. The situation where printing is performed can be suppressed, and deterioration of the image quality of the printed watermark can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the image print command generation unit 207 causes the print target so that the size of the borderless print area set by the borderless area setting unit 206 matches the size of the print target image. Control is performed to enlarge the image and cause the printer 20 to print the enlarged print target image. However, since the print range of the watermark is limited by the mark print command generation unit 210 within the print area of the print target image and within an area narrower than the print area (mark print area), even if the print target image Even if is enlarged, it is possible to suppress a situation where the watermark is printed to the edge of the paper.

  For example, according to the prior art, when performing a borderless printing on an image to be printed, when a watermark is printed on the image to be printed, as shown in FIG. In some cases, the watermark is enlarged and the watermark is printed so as to reach the end of the paper. On the other hand, according to the printer driver 12 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, even when borderless printing is performed on an image to be printed, the watermark to be printed is at the end of the paper. It is possible to control the printer 20 so as not to reach the maximum. Note that a rectangle (dotted line) indicated by a reference symbol γ in FIG. 5B is a mark print area set in the mark area setting unit 209, but this rectangle is shown for convenience of later explanation. Yes, it is not actually printed on paper.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the mark print command generation unit 210 adjusts the size of one font of the watermark so that the watermark to be printed falls within the mark print area. That is, the mark print command generation unit 210 adjusts the size of the entire watermark to be printed according to the size of the mark print area, and causes the printer 20 to print the adjusted watermark. . As a result, even if the watermark printing position is limited to the mark printing area, the entire watermark can be stored in the mark printing area for printing.

  Further, when the size of one font of the watermark is set by the user, the mark print command generation unit 210 cannot adjust the size of one font of the watermark. In such a case, it is assumed that the size of the entire watermark to be printed is too large and the watermark to be printed does not fit in the mark printing area.

  Accordingly, the mark print command generation unit 210 generates a clipping command indicating an instruction to clip the mark image so that the mark image is not printed in an area other than the mark print area on the paper, and prints the clipping command. It may be included in the job and transmitted to the printer 20. In this way, the printer 20 prints the clipped mark image so that the mark image does not protrude in an area other than the mark print area on the paper. Thereby, it is possible to control the printing of the mark image by limiting the printing position of the mark image in the mark printing area. However, in this case, the watermark to be printed may be printed on the paper in a state where a part to be originally printed is missing. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the watermark “Confidential” is printed in a state where the spellings “C” and “l” are missing.

  Further, when the above-described repetitive print mode is set, the mark print command generation unit 210 restricts the watermark print position to the mark print area a as shown in FIG. The printer 20 may be controlled to print a plurality of images side by side. In this way, even in the repetitive printing mode, the printing position of each watermark to be printed is limited within the mark printing area a, so that the situation where the watermark is printed to the end of the sheet can be suppressed. .

  Further, in the PC 10 described above, a monitor (display unit) is provided, and the display control unit (display control unit) 201 of the printer driver 12 prints the print target image and the watermark on the sheet in a superimposed manner. Control for previewing the image on the monitor may be performed. Thereby, the user can confirm the printing position of the watermark with respect to the print target image printed on the paper before printing.

  Further, the display control unit 201 may perform control to display an image indicating the position or size of the mark development area with respect to the print area of the print target image on the monitor. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, on the mark setting screen 401 displayed on the monitor of the PC 10, a rectangle α indicating the print area (borderless print area) of the image to be printed and the inside of the periphery of the rectangle α A rectangle β, which is a mark development area located at, is displayed. According to such a configuration, since the user can recognize the relative position and size of the mark print area with respect to the print area of the print target image, the user confirms the printable range of the mark image. be able to.

  In the above description, the mark area setting unit 209 sets the mark print area based on the mark area information stored in the mark area storage table 208. However, the process is limited to the process based on the mark area information. Is not to be done. For example, the mark area setting unit 209 may determine the position / size of the mark print area from the image print condition information (particularly, the paper size) by a predetermined calculation.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the borderless print mode is set has been described. However, even when the borderless print mode is not set, the mark print region set in the mark region setting unit 209 is You may make it become the area | region inside the periphery of the printing area | region of the printing target image on paper, and narrower than the printing area | region of this printing target image. In this case, for example, the position / size of the mark print area indicated in the mark area information stored for each paper size in the mark area storage table 208 is set to the bordered image printed on the paper of the paper size. What is necessary is just to set so that it may be inside the periphery of the area excluding the border and narrower than the area excluding the border. In this way, even if the borderless printing mode is not set, the mark area setting unit 209 is located inside the periphery of the print area of the print target image and beyond the print area of the print target image. The mark print area can be set in a narrow area.

  In this embodiment, the printing condition information holding unit 203, the print target data holding unit 204, the borderless region storage table 205, the borderless region setting unit 206, the image print command generation unit 207, the mark region storage table 208, the mark region Each of the setting unit 209 and the mark print command generation unit 210 constitutes a printer control device, and the PC 10 is configured to realize the printer control device. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. By including at least one block among the above-described units in a control unit (computer) in the printer 20, the printer control apparatus according to the present embodiment can be changed to the printer 20. It is also possible to configure inside.

  Next, an example of processing when the printer driver 12 described above is started up and a user sets printing conditions in the printer 20 will be described.

  First, when the user inputs a print setting instruction to the PC 10 while the application 14 is being executed, the printer driver 12 is activated, and a print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on a monitor (not shown). Then, the user selects settings for various printing conditions (paper size, number of copies, borderless printing mode, mark setting mode) from this screen.

  Here, the print condition setting screen will be described in detail with reference to FIG. On the print condition setting screen 301, a copy number display window 310, an enlargement / reduction ratio display window 311, a paper size display window 312, a borderless print mode setting button 313, a mark print mode setting button 314, and a confirmation button 315 are displayed. .

  The print copy number display window 310 displays the number of print copies, the enlargement / reduction ratio display window 311 displays the image enlargement / reduction ratio, and the paper size display window 312 displays the size of the paper used for the printing process. . Information displayed in these display windows is set as a printing condition at the time of printing. That is, the user can select the set number of prints, enlargement / reduction ratio, and paper size by changing the information displayed in each display window using a pointing device (not shown) in the PC 10.

  When the user clicks the borderless print mode setting button 313, the borderless print mode is set as a print condition. When the borderless printing mode is set, the borderless printing process is executed. Further, when the user clicks the mark print mode setting button 314, a mark setting screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the monitor of the PC 10.

  Next, the mark setting screen will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, a text display window 402, a character type setting button 403, a size display window 404, a repeat button 405, and a confirm button 406 are displayed on the mark setting screen 401.

  The text display window 402 displays a watermark text to be printed (for example, “Top Secret”, “Important”, “Confidential”, etc.). In the size display window 404, information on the size of the watermark to be printed (size of one font) is displayed. In FIG. 4, “automatic” is displayed in the size display window 404, but this “automatic” means that the size of one font of the watermark is automatically set in the printer driver 12. is there.

  Information displayed in these display windows is set as a printing condition related to the watermark. In addition, the user can appropriately select a printing condition related to the set watermark by operating a pointing device (not shown) in the PC 10 and changing information displayed on each display window.

  When the user clicks the character type setting button 403, a character type setting screen (not shown) is displayed on the monitor of the PC 10. The character type setting screen is a screen for setting and selecting the character type (Mincho, Gothic, Italic, etc.) of the watermark. Further, when the user clicks the repeat button 405, the above-described “repeat print mode” is set as a print condition (see FIG. 6).

  When the user clicks the confirm button (OK button) 406, the settings of various conditions selected on the mark setting screen 401 are confirmed, and the print condition setting screen 301 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed again on the monitor. Will be.

  Further, when the user clicks a confirmation button 315 included in the printing condition setting screen 301 shown in FIG. 3, the setting of various conditions selected on the printing condition setting screen 301 is confirmed and the PC 10 receives the setting. A print confirmation instruction is input. Upon receiving this print confirmation instruction, the printer driver 12 starts print job generation processing based on the print conditions set on the print condition setting screen 301 and the mark setting screen 401 described above.

  Next, an example of the processing procedure of the printer driver 12 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing order of the printer driver 12.

  First, the printer driver 12 displays image printing condition information indicating various conditions selected on the printing condition setting screen 301 in FIG. 3 and various conditions selected on the mark setting screen 401 in FIG. The mark print condition information is received from the application 14, and the information is written in the print condition information holding unit 203 (step 701, hereinafter referred to as "S701").

  Furthermore, when a print confirmation instruction is input to the PC 10 by the user, the printer driver 12 receives print target data from the application 14 and performs a process of writing the print target data to the print target data holding unit 204 (S702).

  Next, the printer driver 12 refers to the image printing condition information written in the printing condition information holding unit 203, and determines whether the borderless printing mode is set (S703).

  If it is determined that the borderless printing mode is not set (NO in step S703), the printer driver 12 displays the image printing condition information written in the printing condition information holding unit 203 and the print target data holding unit. Based on the print target data written in 204, an image print command for a print target image with a border is generated (S707).

  If it is determined in step S703 that the borderless print mode is set (YES in step S703), the printer driver 12 refers to the image print condition information written in the print condition information holding unit 203 to perform printing. The borderless area information associated with the sheet size information indicating the sheet size is read from the borderless area storage table 205 and the borderless printing indicated by the read borderless area information is detected. The area is set as the print area of the print target image (S704).

  Further, the printer driver 12 calculates a ratio of the size of the borderless print area to the size of the image indicated in the print target data written in the print target data holding unit 204 as an image enlargement ratio (S705). Thereafter, the printer driver 12 generates an image print command for a borderless print target image based on the image print condition information, print target data, the borderless area information, and the image enlargement ratio (S706). Note that the image print command generated here enlarges the image corresponding to the print target data (print target image) based on the enlargement ratio and expands it to the borderless print area indicated by the borderless area information. The instruction content for printing the image is shown.

  Further, the printer driver 12 refers to the image printing condition information written in the printing condition information holding unit 203, and determines whether or not the mark printing mode is set (S708). If it is determined that the mark print mode is not set (NO in S708), the printer driver 12 generates a print job including the image print command generated in S706 or S707, and executes the print job. The data is transmitted to the printer 20 (S710).

  If it is determined in S708 that the mark print mode is set (YES in S708), the printer driver 12 executes a watermark generation process described later (S709). Then, the printer driver 12 generates a print job including the mark print command generated in the watermark generation process, the clipping command, and the image print command generated in S706 or S707, and sends the print job to the printer 20. Transmit (S710).

  Next, details of the watermark generation processing in S709 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the printer driver 12 detects the paper size used for printing with reference to the image printing condition information written in the printing condition information holding unit 203, and associates it with the paper size information indicating the paper size. The mark area information is read from the mark area storage table 208, and the mark print area indicated by the read mark area information is set as the watermark print area (S801).

  Next, the printer driver 12 refers to the mark size information included in the mark printing condition information written in the printing condition information holding unit 203, and determines whether or not the watermark size is automatically set (S802). ).

  If it is determined that the automatic setting has not been made (NO in S802), the printer driver 12 moves the process to S804.

  If it is determined in S802 that the automatic setting has been made (YES in S802), the printer driver 12 adjusts the size of the entire watermark to be printed by adjusting the size of the watermark per font. Then, the process proceeds to S805 (S803). In S803, as shown in FIG. 5B, the size (length) of the entire watermark printed on the paper in the paper short direction is the paper short direction of the mark printing area γ on the paper. The size of the entire watermark is adjusted to be smaller than the size (length).

  Next, the printer driver 12 refers to the mark printing condition information and determines whether or not the repeated printing mode is set (S804).

  If it is determined in S804 that the repeated printing mode is not set (NO in S804), the printer driver 12 sets the number of repetitions N = 1 (S807), and as shown in FIG. The watermark printing position is set so that the center of the watermark overlaps the center of the mark printing area γ set in (S808), and the process then proceeds to S809.

  If it is determined in S804 that the repetitive printing mode is set (YES in S804), the printer driver 12 determines the size of the entire watermark to be printed and the mark printing area set in S801. Based on this, the number of repetitions N is calculated (S805). The number of repetitions N calculated here is the case where a plurality of watermarks are printed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the paper, limited to the mark printing area a on the paper, as shown in FIG. The number of watermarks that can be printed.

  After S805, as shown in FIG. 10A, the printer driver 12 sets the watermark print position on one end along the paper longitudinal direction in the mark print area b set in S801. (S806) Then, the process proceeds to S809.

  Then, the printer driver 12 generates a watermark print instruction for the printer 20 and a mark print command indicating the instruction content (S809). The instruction content indicated by the mark print command includes information indicating the size of the watermark to be printed, information indicating the print position of the watermark set in S806, S808, and S813 (described later), printing Information indicating the text of the watermark to be included is included. That is, the printer 20 that has received this mark print command prints the watermark in accordance with the instruction content included in this mark print command.

  Thereafter, the printer driver 12 subtracts 1 from the number of repetitions N (S810), and determines whether N = 0 (S811). If N = 0 (YES in S811), the printer driver 12 generates a clipping command indicating an instruction to clip the watermark in an area other than the mark printing area set in S801 ( In step S812, the process ends (proceeds to step S711).

  If N = 0 is not satisfied in S811 (NO in S812), the printer driver 12 shifts the process to S813. In step S813, as shown in FIG. 10B, the printer driver 12 resets the set watermark printing position by shifting it from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the paper (before and after resetting). Thereafter, the processing of S809, S810, and S811 is repeated until N = 0.

  In the embodiment described above, the print target image is preferably a photographic image, and the set watermark is preferably a character image or a graphic image. This is because image quality degradation near the edge of the paper is not noticeable even when borderless printing is performed for photographic images, but image quality degradation is noticeable when printed near the edge of the paper for character images or graphic images. is there.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and the embodiment can be obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the above-described embodiment. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Note that the display control unit 201, the communication unit 202, the borderless region setting unit 206, the image print command generation unit 207, the mark region setting unit 209, and the mark print command generation unit 210 of the above-described embodiment are calculated by a calculation unit such as a CPU. It can be realized by executing a program stored in a storage means such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM and controlling input means such as a keyboard, output means such as a display, or communication means such as an interface circuit. it can. Therefore, the computer having these means can realize various functions and various processes of the monitoring apparatus of the present embodiment simply by reading the recording medium storing the program and executing the program. In addition, by recording the program on a removable recording medium, the various functions and various processes described above can be realized on an arbitrary computer.

  As the recording medium, a program medium such as a memory (not shown) such as a ROM may be used for processing by the microcomputer, and a program reading device is provided as an external storage device (not shown). It may be a program medium that can be read by inserting a recording medium there.

  In any case, the stored program is preferably configured to be accessed and executed by the microprocessor. Furthermore, it is preferable that the program is read out, and the read program is downloaded to the program storage area of the microcomputer and the program is executed. It is assumed that the download program is stored in the main device in advance.

  The program medium is a recording medium configured to be separable from the main body, such as a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, or a disk such as a CD / MO / MD / DVD. Fixed disk system, card system such as IC card (including memory card), or semiconductor memory such as mask ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), flash ROM, etc. In particular, there are recording media that carry programs.

  In addition, if the system configuration is capable of connecting to a communication network including the Internet, the recording medium is preferably a recording medium that fluidly carries the program so as to download the program from the communication network.

  Further, when the program is downloaded from the communication network as described above, it is preferable that the download program is stored in the main device in advance or installed from another recording medium.

  The present invention is suitable as a control device and a control program for controlling an MFP (Multi Function Printer), an inkjet printer, a copying machine, and the like.

It is a functional block diagram showing various functions performed by a printer driver installed in the PC of the present embodiment. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printing system including a PC and a printer according to an embodiment. It is the model which showed the screen for printing condition setting displayed on the monitor of PC of this embodiment. It is the schematic diagram which showed the mark setting screen displayed on the monitor of PC of this embodiment. It is the model which showed the printing image of the watermark at the time of printing by superimposing the watermark on the printing object image to be printed borderless, (a) shows the watermark printed on the paper by the conventional method, (B) shows the watermark printed on the paper by the configuration of the present embodiment. It is the schematic diagram which showed the watermark printed on the paper in the repeated printing mode. It is the schematic diagram which showed the watermark partially clipped and printed on the paper. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an order of processing of the printer driver according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of a watermark generation process shown in FIG. 8. It is the model which showed the printing position of the watermark set when performing a repeated printing process, (a) is the figure which showed the printing position set initially, (b) is the 2nd time. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a printing position to be set. It is the schematic diagram which showed the GUI for the watermark setting in the past.

Explanation of symbols

10 PC (printer control device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Printer driver 13 Data transmission / reception part 14 Application 20 Printer 201 Display control part (display control means)
202 Communication Unit 203 Printing Condition Information Holding Unit 204 Print Target Data Holding Unit 205 Borderless Area Storage Table 206 Borderless Area Setting Unit (Borderless Printing Area Setting Unit)
207 Image Print Command Generation Unit (Borderless Print Control Unit)
208 Mark area storage table 209 Mark area setting section (mark area setting means)
210 Mark Print Command Generation Unit (Mark Print Control Unit)

Claims (11)

In a printer control apparatus that causes a printer to execute a process of superimposing and printing a print target image and a mark image on paper,
Mark area setting means for setting, as a mark development area, an area inside the periphery of the print area of the print target image on the paper;
And a mark printing control means for limiting the printing position of the mark image within the mark development area and causing the printer to print the mark image.   The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a borderless print control unit that causes the printer to print the image to be printed borderlessly.   The borderless print control means enlarges the print target image so that the entire size of one side of the paper matches the size of the print target image, and causes the printer to print the enlarged print target image. Item 3. The printer control device according to Item 2.   4. The mark print control means adjusts the size of the mark image according to the size of the mark development area, and causes the printer to print the mark image of the adjusted size. The printer control apparatus according to item 1.   4. The mark printing control unit commands the printer to clip the mark image so that the mark image is not printed in an area other than the mark development area on the paper. A printer control apparatus according to claim 1.   6. The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mark printing control unit controls the printer so as to print a plurality of the same mark images in the mark development area. .   7. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit; and display control means for displaying a preview image on the display unit when the image to be printed and the mark image are superimposed on the sheet. The printer control apparatus according to any one of the above.   7. The display unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit; and display control means for displaying an image indicating a position or size of the mark development area with respect to a print area of the print target image on the display unit. The printer control apparatus according to any one of the above. In a printer control method for causing a printer to execute a process of superimposing and printing a print target image and a mark image on paper,
Setting an area inside the periphery of the printing area of the image to be printed on the paper as a mark development area;
Limiting the printing position of the mark image within the mark development area, and causing the printer to print the mark image.   A printer control program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the printer control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the printer control program according to claim 10 is recorded.

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