JP2007174387A - Information processing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus and a control method thereof capable of magnifying a design pattern image while maintaining the reproducibility of the original design pattern image. <P>SOLUTION: A host computer 3000 magnifies a contents image at a first magnification, magnifies a foreground background region designation image denoting a boundary between a latent image and a background image in the design pattern image at a magnification on the basis of the first magnification to generate the design pattern image on the basis of the magnified image. The magnified contents image and the produced design pattern image are composed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that synthesizes and outputs a tint block image and a document image, and a control method therefor.

  Conventionally, for the purpose of prohibiting or inhibiting copying of forms and resident's cards, these contents have been printed on a specially-printed paper called anti-counterfeit paper. This forgery-preventing paper is hard to be seen by humans in the original, but is a paper on which characters such as “prohibited copying” appear when copying using a copying machine or the like. As a result, the effect of making the copy person hesitant to use the copy is produced. Furthermore, it is assumed that such a form or the like is printed on forgery prevention paper, so that the effect of inhibiting and checking the copy itself is also produced.

  However, such anti-counterfeit paper has a problem that it is more expensive than ordinary paper. Further, only characters set at the time of production of the anti-counterfeit paper can be raised, and the use of the paper is limited.

  On the other hand, as various contents are digitized, contents such as forms and resident's cards are also digitized. However, the digitization of these forms and resident's forms themselves is still in a transitional period, and content created using a computer is often output and used on paper using a printer or the like.

  In response to such a situation, attention has been paid to a technique for generating anti-counterfeit paper, which has been prepared in advance by plate making or the like, using a computer and a printer (see Patent Document 1). This is a technique for generating image data called a tint block in addition to content data when printing and outputting content created using a computer, and outputting these data in an overlapping manner. The background pattern is sometimes called a copy check pattern. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image appears as a simple pattern or background image to the human eye in the original (printed matter output by the printer), but when copied, predetermined characters and images are visualized. And this original can give the same check effect as said forgery prevention paper. This is possible due to a dramatic improvement in printer performance.

  When a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image created using a computer is output overlaid on content data, it can of course be output using normal printing paper, etc. There are advantages in terms. Furthermore, since a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be generated when the content data is printed out, it is possible to freely determine not only the color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image but also characters to be visualized when copying the original. Another advantage is that the output date and time, information specific to the printing apparatus, and the like can be used as the tint block image.

  As described above, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image realizes an effect of suppressing the use of the copied material by revealing a predetermined character that cannot be recognized before copying when the original is copied.

  In order to realize this effect, the generated tint block image is basically an area in which the same image as the original remains in the copy, and the image existing in the original in the copy “disappears” (or And a region that is thinner than the image of the “remaining” region.

  Note that the reflection densities in these two regions are substantially the same on the original. For this reason, it is not known that a character string such as “COPY” is embedded in the human eye. Here, “remaining” means that the image in the original is accurately reproduced on the copy. “Disappear” means that the original image is not reproduced on the copy. The reflection density is measured with a reflection densitometer.

  Hereinafter, the “remaining” area on the copy is referred to as a “latent image portion”, and the “disappearing” area (or “becomes thinner than the remaining area”) on the copy is referred to as a “background portion”.

  The latent image portion is configured such that dots are concentrated in a predetermined area. In contrast, the background portion is configured such that dots are dispersed within a predetermined area. By configuring so that the density of dots in this region is substantially the same, it is possible to make it difficult to distinguish the latent image portion from the background portion in the printed output of the tint block image.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the state of dots in these two image areas. In FIG. 13, a region where dots are concentrated is a latent image portion, and a region where dots are dispersed is a background portion. The dots in these two areas are generated by different halftone dot processing and different dither processing. For example, the dots in the latent image portion are generated by halftone dot processing with a low line number, and the dots in the background portion are generated by halftone dot processing with a high line number. Alternatively, the dots in the latent image portion are generated using a dot concentration type dither matrix, and the dots in the background portion are generated using a dot dispersion type dither matrix.

  For example, when a tint block image is generated using halftone processing, the latent image portion performs halftone processing with a low number of lines. In addition, it is preferable that the background portion performs halftone dot processing with a high number of lines. Furthermore, when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated using dither processing, the latent image portion performs dither processing using a dot-concentrated dither matrix. Further, it is preferable that the background portion performs dither processing using a dot dispersion type dither matrix.

  Incidentally, since the reproduction capability of a copying machine depends on the input resolution and output resolution of the copying machine, there is a limit to the reproduction capability of the copying machine. Thereby, the dots in the latent image portion of the tint block image are formed larger than the dots that can be reproduced by the copying machine, and the dots in the background portion are formed smaller than the dots that can be reproduced. As a result, the dots in the latent image portion are generally reproduced on the copy, but the dots in the background portion are difficult to reproduce. As a result, the latent image portion is reproduced darker than the background portion on the copy. Hereinafter, when the latent image portion is reproduced darker than the background portion on the copy, the embedded character string or the like appears to be raised, which is referred to as “visualization”.

  FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams showing this visualization. This figure conceptually shows that when the dots are concentrated, the image is also visualized in the copy, and when the dots are dispersed, it is not reproduced in the copy.

  Note that copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing is not limited to the above-described configuration, and it is sufficient that a character string or the like can be reproduced on a copy at a recognizable level. Further, even if a character string such as “COPY” is shown in white on the copy, it can be said that the purpose of the tint block printing is achieved. In this case, needless to say, the area of “COPY” is called a background portion.

  In this way, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern that is realized by a computer, particularly a printer driver, is used to prevent copying by a copying machine. Therefore, in most cases, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is applied using one physical sheet as one unit.

  By realizing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing function with the printer driver, it is not necessary to use a special copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing application.

  In other words, it is possible to realize tint block printing with a tint block image uniformly added to any original, greatly expanding the application range of tint block printing.

  Furthermore, the image quality and functions of tint block printing are very dependent on the dot reproducibility of the extremely small dots, and the realization of the tint block function in the printer driver that can fully consider the characteristics of the print engine and toner or ink of these output devices It makes sense.

  According to this technology, since a tint block image created using a computer can be output over the content data, only the content can be N-up printed. In FIG. 12E, “page1” in FIG. 15A, “page2” in FIG. 15B, “page3” in FIG. 15C, and “page4” in FIG. , 4-up printing is shown. Here, “COPY” in FIGS. 15A to 15E is a hidden character.

JP 2001-197297 A

  In 4-up printing, in order to reduce the content and the tint block image according to the layout of 4-up printing, it is conceivable to reduce the entire image by reducing the dots constituting the content and the tint block image.

  However, in this case, the large-diameter dots constituting the latent image portion of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are also reduced, and the diameter may be less than the limit level.

  Then, when a 4-up printed sheet is copied, the latent image portion of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not reproduced without being read by the copying machine, and the hidden character “COPY” does not appear.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus that can solve the above-described problems and can scale the scaled copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image while maintaining the reproducibility of the original copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, and its control method. Objective.

  The invention according to claim 1 generates the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on a scaling unit for scaling the content image at a first magnification, and a first image showing a boundary between the latent image and the background image in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. And generating means for combining the content image scaled by the scaling means and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated by the generating means, scaling the first image at a magnification, The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated based on the scaled image.

  In the invention of claim 1, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image region in which a first dot that can be reproduced when copied and a second dot that is smaller than the first dot that can be reproduced are arranged; And a background area on which dots are arranged.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it may further include boundary processing means for performing boundary processing on a portion where the latent image region and the background region are switched.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is converted based on a scaling process for scaling the content image at a first magnification, and a first image indicating a boundary between the latent image and the background image in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. A generating step for generating, and a combining step for combining the content image scaled in the scaling step and the tint block image generated in the generating step, wherein the generating step is based on the first magnification The first image is scaled at a magnification, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated based on the scaled image.

  In the invention of claim 4, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image area in which a first dot that can be reproduced when copied and a second dot that is smaller than the first dot that can be reproduced are arranged; And a background area on which dots are arranged.

  The invention according to claim 5 may further include a boundary processing step of performing boundary processing on a portion where the latent image region and the background region are switched.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the computer based on the scale pattern based on the scaling unit for scaling the content image at the first magnification and the first image indicating the boundary between the latent image and the background image in the pattern pattern image. A generating unit configured to generate an image; and a combining unit configured to combine the content image scaled by the scaling unit and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated by the generating unit, wherein the generating unit sets the first magnification. The first image is scaled with a scaling factor, and the tint block image is generated based on the scaled image.

  The invention according to claim 8 stores the program according to claim 7.

  According to the present invention, since it is configured as described above, it is possible to scale the background pattern image while maintaining the reproducibility of the original background pattern image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Here, an area of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image that is read by the copying machine and reproduced on the copy is referred to as a “latent image portion”. In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, an area that is not read by the copying machine and is not reproduced on the copy, or an area in which the density is lower than the latent image part even if read by the copying machine is referred to as a “background part”.

  In the present embodiment, text information and image information are input to the latent image portion, and these text information and image information are reproduced in a copy so that they can be recognized at a higher density than the background portion. Will be described.

  In addition, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not defined by its type, its generation process, color, shape, size, or the like.

Next, the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described.
(Configuration of printing system)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The printing system includes a host computer 3000 and a printer 1500. However, the present printing system is not limited to this. As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, a system that is connected through a network such as a LAN or WAN and performs processing, whether it is a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices. May be.

(Host computer 3000)
The host computer 3000 includes a CPU 1, a RAM 2, and a ROM 3. The host computer 3000 includes a keyboard controller (KBC) 5, a CRT controller (CRTC) 6, a disk controller (DKC) 7, and a printer controller (PRTC) 8. These units are connected to each other via a system bus 4.

  A keyboard (KB) 9 or a pointing device (not shown) is connected to the KBC 5. A CRT 10 is connected to the CRTC 6. An external memory 11 is connected to the DKC 7.

  The CPU 1 controls each unit connected to the system bus 4. The CPU 1 controls execution of document processing and printing processing based on the document processing program stored in the ROM 3 or the external memory 11. This document processing includes a mixture of figures, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), and the like including processing described later.

  An operating system program (hereinafter referred to as “OS”) or the like is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11. The font ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores font data used for the document processing. The data ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores various data used when performing the document processing or the like.

  The RAM 2 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1.

  The KBC 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). The CRTC 6 controls display by the CRT 10 including display of a tint block image. The DKC 7 controls access to the external memory 11. Examples of the external memory 11 include a hard disk (HD) and a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD). The HD or FD stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as “printer driver”), and the like. The PRTC 8 is connected to the printer 1500 via the bidirectional interface (I / F) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500.

  The CPU 1 opens various windows registered in advance based on commands instructed with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user can open a window related to print settings and set the print processing method for the printer driver, including printer settings and print mode selection.

(Printer 1500)
In the printer 1500, a CPU 12, a RAM 19, a ROM 13, an input unit 18, a printing unit I / F 16, an operation unit 1501, and a memory controller (MC) 20 are connected to each other via a system bus 15. It is.

  A printing unit (printer engine) 17 is connected to the printing unit I / F 16. An external memory 14 is connected to the MC 20.

  The CPU 12 outputs an image signal as print output information to the printing unit 17 based on a control program stored in the ROM 13 or a control program stored in the external memory 14.

  The program ROM of the ROM 13 stores a control program for the CPU 12 and the like. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data and the like used when generating the print output information. The data ROM of the ROM 13 stores information used on the computer in the case of a printer without the external memory 14 such as an HD.

  The CPU 12 can perform communication processing with the host computer 3000 via the input unit 18. Thus, information in the printer 1500 can be notified to the host computer 3000. The RAM 19 functions as a main memory of the CPU 12 and a work area. The memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like.

  Access to the external memory 14 such as an HD or IC card is controlled by the MC 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. The input unit 18 includes a switch for operation on the operation panel and an LED display.

  The printer 1500 can include an NVRAM (not shown). The NVRAM may store printer mode setting information from the operation unit 1501.

  The printing unit 17 is an electrophotographic engine in this embodiment. Therefore, the print data including the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is finally recorded on a medium such as paper by toner dots. Of course, the printing method according to the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an ink jet method or the like may be used for printing by forming dots.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the host computer 3000 of FIG. The application 201, graphic engine 202, printer driver 203, and system spooler 204 exist as files stored in the external memory 11. These are program modules that are loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the OS and modules that use the module.

  Further, the application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to the HD of the external memory 11 via the FD of the external memory 11, a CD-ROM (not shown), or a network (not shown). The application 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed. When printing is performed from the application 201 to the printer 1500, output (rendering) is similarly performed using the graphic engine 202 loaded into the RAM 2 and executable.

  The graphic engine 202 loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus such as a printer from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2, and sets the output of the application 201 in the printer driver 203. Further, the graphic engine 202 converts a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function received from the application 201 into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function and outputs it to the printer driver 203. Based on the DDI function received from the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 converts it into a control command that can be recognized by the printer, for example, PDL (Page Description Language). The converted printer control command is output as print data to the printer 1500 via the interface 21 via the system spooler 204 loaded into the RAM 2 by the OS.

  The printing system includes a tint block processing unit 205 in the printer driver 203. The tint block processing unit 205 may be in the form of a built-in module of the printer driver 203. The tint block processing unit 205 may be in the form of a library module added by individual installation. The printer driver 203 performs processing such as drawing of a tint block image, which will be described later, by executing the tint block processing unit 205 regarding printing of the tint block image.

(Description of tint block image print processing)
FIG. 3 shows an example of an initial screen of the user interface related to the tint block image print arranged in the printer driver 203. In this example, settings relating to a tint block print (print including a tint block image) can be performed on the property sheet 2101 in the dialog.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 2102 denotes a check box for designating whether to perform copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing for a print job. The content specified in the check box 2102 is stored as additional print information that holds print setting information related to print data (original data). Reference numeral 2103 denotes style information for making it possible to designate a plurality of pieces of setting information for a tint block print with one identifier (style). The printer driver 203 can select a plurality of styles, and the relationship between each style and predetermined information regarding the tint block print is registered in the registry. When the button 2104 is pressed, a style editing dialog 2201 shown in FIG. 4A is displayed.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog for editing individual detailed settings of a tint block print. In the figure, reference numeral 2201 denotes the entire tint block information editing dialog, and the result of the tint block image generated by individual tint block information described later is displayed for preview in the same area. Reference numeral 2202 denotes an area for displaying a list of styles that can be selected by the style information 2103 (FIG. 3). By using the buttons 2203 and 2204, the style can be newly added or deleted. Reference numeral 2205 denotes an area in which the currently designated style name is displayed.

  Reference numeral 2206 denotes a radio button for selecting the type of drawing object used for copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing. When the user selects “character string” with the radio button 2206, the text object can be used. On the other hand, when the user selects “image”, image data represented by BMP or the like can be used. In the example of FIG. 4A, since “character string” is selected, setting information regarding the text objects 2207 to 2209 is displayed in the dialog 2201 and can be edited.

  When “image” is selected by the radio button 2206, the setting information 2207 to 2209 is not displayed. Instead, an image file name display 2215 shown in FIG. 4B and a button 2216 for displaying a file selection dialog (not shown) are displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the type of drawing object used for copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing is “character string” and “image”, and either one is selected. However, the type of drawing object is not limited to this. A plurality of types of drawing objects may be used simultaneously.

  In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 2207 denotes an area for displaying and editing a character string used as a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. Reference numeral 2208 denotes an area for displaying and editing font information of a character string. In the present embodiment, only the font name selection screen is used, but the typeface family information (bold, italic, etc.), decorative character information, etc. may be expanded to be selectable.

  Reference numeral 2209 denotes an area for displaying and setting the font size of the character string used as the tint block pattern. In this embodiment, a format that can be designated in three stages of “large”, “medium”, and “small” is assumed. However, a commonly used font size designation method such as direct input of the number of points is adopted. May be.

  Reference numeral 2210 denotes a radio button for setting the printing order of the tint block pattern and the document data. When “watermark printing” is designated by the radio button 2210, the original pattern data is drawn after the background pattern is drawn. On the other hand, when “overlapping printing” is designated, after the document data is drawn, the tint block pattern is drawn. The drawing procedure will be described later.

  Reference numeral 2211 denotes a radio button for designating the arrangement angle of the tint block pattern. In the present embodiment, three selections of “upward to the right”, “downward to the right”, and “horizontal” are possible. However, the angle designation method may be expanded by providing a numerical value input area in which an angle can be arbitrarily designated, an intuitively designated slider bar, and the like.

  Reference numeral 2212 denotes an area for displaying and specifying a color used for the tint block image (foreground portion, background portion). Reference numeral 2213 denotes a check box for exchanging the foreground part and the background part. When the check box 2213 is checked, the foreground part and the background part are exchanged on the copy. As a result, the foreground portion is reproduced on the copy, the text information and image information as the background portion are not reproduced, and the text information and image information are so-called whitened. On the other hand, when the check box 2213 is not checked, the latent image portion and the background portion are not exchanged, and text information and image information are reproduced as they are as a latent image portion on the copy.

  Reference numeral 2214 denotes an area for designating a camouflage image for preventing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image from being visually added to the printed output to which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added. The camouflage image can be selected from a plurality of patterns. An option of not using a camouflage image is also provided.

(Data format of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print setting information)
Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the additional print information related to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print setting information described with reference to FIG. 4 will be described. In this embodiment, additional print information described below is stored in a job output file held as information constituting a physical page to be printed. In addition to the above configuration, various forms can be adopted for storing the additional print information.

  In FIG. 5, a field 2001 stores a value indicating an object type (text format or image) to be drawn by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print specified by the radio button 2206 in FIG. The field 2002 stores setting information for the drawing object specified by the information in the field 2001, which is specified in the areas 2207 to 2209 in FIG. 4A or in FIG. 4B. When text is selected, a character string, font name, and size information are stored. When an image is selected, the location of an input image file is stored.

  The field 2003 stores information specifying the printing order such as whether the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is drawn with respect to the document data first or later, which is designated by the radio button 2210 in FIG. .

  In a field 2004, angle information for placing a drawing object specified by the radio button 2211 in FIG. 4A is stored. In a field 2005, color information used for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image (latent image portion and background portion) designated in the area 2212 in FIG. 4A is stored.

  The field 2006 stores information on the latent image portion and the background portion specified by the check box 2213 in FIG. The field 2007 stores camouflage image pattern additional information specified in the area 2214 of FIG.

  In the field 2008, density information of the latent image portion is stored. In the field 2009, density information of the background portion is stored.

(Drawing process of tint block image)
6 and 7 are flowcharts showing a drawing processing procedure in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing. This flowchart shows the flow of the drawing process corresponding to “watermark printing” and “overlapping printing” described with reference to FIG. Further, these processes are performed in a printing process using a general printer driver. Further, the following processing is performed by the CPU 1 that controls and executes the printing processing. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, steps that execute the same process are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  First, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, a case of “watermark printing”, that is, a case of drawing a tint block image before drawing of document data will be described. In step 1901, the CPU 1 draws a background pattern image in accordance with the information on the background pattern image indicated by the background pattern image information shown in FIG. The detailed processing will be described later with reference to FIG. Next, the drawing process is performed on the document data. First, in step 1902, the CPU 1 initializes a counter that counts the number of logical pages per physical page (one side of printing paper).

  In step 1903, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the counter has reached a preset number of logical pages per physical page. If it is determined that it is equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step 1908. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number is not equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step 1904.

  In step 1904, the CPU 1 increments the counter by one. In step 1905, the CPU 1 calculates an effective print area for a logical page to be drawn based on the number of logical pages per page and the counter value. In step 1906, the CPU 1 reads the current logical page number from the print setting information (not shown) regarding the physical page using the counter value as an index. Then, the CPU 1 draws the corresponding logical page so as to fit within the effective print area. Of course, there is no need for reduction when multiple logical page layout printing is not designated.

  The above is the procedure of the drawing process related to “watermark printing”.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, a case of “overlay printing”, that is, a case of drawing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image after drawing original data will be described. In step 1902, the CPU 1 initializes a counter that counts the number of logical pages per physical page (one side of the printing paper). In step 1903, the CPU 1 determines whether the counter has reached a preset number of logical pages per physical page. If it is determined that it is equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step 1908. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number is not equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step 1904.

  In step 1904, the CPU 1 increments the counter by one. In step 1905, the CPU 1 calculates an effective print area for a logical page to be drawn based on the number of logical pages per page and the counter value. In step 1906, the CPU 1 reads the current logical page number from the print setting information (not shown) regarding the physical page using the counter value as an index. Then, the CPU 1 draws the corresponding logical page so as to fit within the effective print area. Of course, there is no need for reduction when multiple logical page layout printing is not designated.

  When the development of a predetermined number of logical pages as one physical page is completed, the process proceeds to step 1908. In step 1908, the CPU 1 draws a tint block image in accordance with the information on the tint block image indicated by the tint block image information shown in FIG. 5 for the effective print area of the physical page acquired from the application. The detailed processing will be described later with reference to FIG. 8 as in the case of watermark printing.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the tint block image drawing processing in step S1901 in FIG. 6 and step S1908 in FIG. First, a tint block image drawing process is started in step S2701 via a user interface or the like. Next, in step S2702, the CPU 1 performs various processes necessary for drawing a tint block image, such as an input background image, a background threshold pattern, a latent image threshold pattern, a latent image background area designation image as a first image, and a camouflage area designation image. Get information. In step S2703, the CPU 1 determines an initial pixel for generating a tint block image. For example, when a tint block image is arranged by performing image processing on the entire input image from the upper left to the lower right in the raster scan order, the upper left pixel is set as the initial pixel.

  In step S2704, the CPU 1 arranges the background threshold pattern, the latent image threshold pattern, the latent image background area designation image, and the camouflage image on the tile from the initial pixel of the input background image. And CPU1 performs the calculation based on following Formula (1) with respect to the pixel of the input background image used as a process target. From the calculation result, the CPU 1 determines whether or not to write the pixel value corresponding to the dot at the time of printing in the memory area. The pixel value at this time corresponds to the input color information.

Here, the background threshold pattern and the latent image threshold pattern are pattern data including “1” and “0” corresponding to dot writing / non-writing. These pattern data are data patterned by respective dither matrices suitable for creating a latent image and a background image.
nWriteDotOn ＝ nCamouflage
× (nSmallDotOn × ¬nHiddenMark
+ NLargeDotOn x nHiddenMark) (1)

Next, each term of the formula (1) will be described.
nComouflage: 0 in a camouflage area designating image, 0 if the target pixel is a pixel in the camouflage area, 1 otherwise.
nSmallDotOn: 1 if the pixel value of the background threshold pattern is black, 0 if white (color is not limited to this)
nLargeDotOn: 1 if the pixel value of the latent image threshold pattern is black, 0 if white (color is not limited to this)
NHiddenMark: 1 if the target pixel is a pixel corresponding to the latent image portion in the latent image background region designation image, and 0 if the target pixel is a pixel corresponding to the background portion.
nHiddenMark: Denial of nHiddenMark. 0 in the latent image portion and 1 in the background portion.
Note that it is not necessary to calculate using all the elements of Expression (1) for each pixel to be processed. By eliminating unnecessary calculations, the processing speed can be increased.
For example, if nHiddenMark = 1, nHiddenMark = 0. When nHiddenMark = 0, nHiddenmark = 1.
Therefore, if nHiddenMark = 1, the value of the following equation (2) may be the value of nLargeDotOn, and if nHiddenMark = 0, the value of equation (2) may be the value of nSmallDotOn.
Further, since the value of nCamouflage is an integration over the whole as shown in Expression (1), if nCamouflage = 0, nWriteDotOn = 0.
Therefore, when nCamouflage = 0, the following equation (2), that is,
(NSmallDotOn x nHiddenMark + nLargeDotOn x nHiddenMark) (2)
The calculation of can be omitted.

  The generated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is an image having a size constituted by the least common multiple of the vertical and horizontal lengths of the background threshold pattern, the latent image threshold pattern, the latent image background area designation image, and the camouflage area designation image. Is the minimum unit of repetition. For this reason, the tint block image drawing unit generates only a part of the tint block image, which is the minimum repeating unit, and repeatedly arranges it in a tile shape so as to be the size of an image that generates a part of the tint block image. As a result, the processing time required to generate the tint block image can be shortened.

  Next, in step S2705, the CPU 1 determines the calculation result (value of nWriteDotOn) in step S2704. That is, if nWriteDotOn = 1, the process proceeds to step S2706, and if nWriteDotOn = 0, the process proceeds to step S2707.

  In step S2706, the CPU 1 performs a process of setting a pixel value corresponding to a dot at the time of printing. Here, the pixel value can be changed depending on the color of the tint block image. When a black tint block image is to be created, the processing target pixel of the tint block image is set to black. In addition, a color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be created by setting cyan, magenta, and yellow according to the color of the toner or ink of the printer. Furthermore, when the image is image data of 1 to several bits per pixel, the pixel value can be expressed using the index color.

  Here, the index color is a method for expressing image data. More specifically, (a) color information that frequently appears in a target color image is set as a table of contents, and (b) the value of each pixel is expressed by a table of contents number describing the color information. It is. According to (a) above, for example, index 0 is white and index 1 is cyan. Further, according to the above (b), for example, the first pixel value is expressed as the value of index 1, the second pixel value is expressed as the value of index 2, and so on.

  In step S2707, the CPU 1 determines whether all the pixels in the processing target area have been processed. If it is determined that all the pixels in the processing target area have not been processed, the process proceeds to step S2708, an unprocessed pixel is selected, and the processes in steps S2704 to S2706 are executed again. If processing for all the pixels in the processing target area has been completed, the process advances to step S2709.

  A tint block image can be generated by the above processing. It should be noted that with such a process, a cluster of dots may occur at a portion where the latent image portion and the background portion are switched in the latent image background region designation image. In this case, the outline of the latent image becomes conspicuous, and there is a possibility that a demerit that the effect of preventing forgery is reduced. Therefore, a process (boundary process) for preventing the formation of a cluster of dots at a portion where the latent image portion and the background portion are switched in the latent image background region designation image may be performed together. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a generation example of a tint block image that has been subjected to the boundary processing.

  Again referring to FIG. A tint block image is generated by the above processing. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation processing is common to step S1901 in FIG. 6 and step S1908 in FIG. 7, but the method for drawing the generated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and document data is different.

  In the process of step S1901 in FIG. 6, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is the background, the watermark drawing process of step S2710 is executed. In step S2710, processing is performed for rendering characters or the like created by application software after rendering the tint block image (normal data after rendering the tint block image). That is, no special processing is performed for drawing a tint block image.

  On the other hand, in the process of step S1908 in FIG. 7, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is drawn in a state where normal data that has already been drawn is used as a background, and thus the overlapping drawing process of step S2711 is executed. In this case, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is drawn on top of characters or the like created by the application software, if the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is simply drawn, the background is overwritten and cannot be seen. Therefore, by using logical drawing such as AND and OR, it is possible to avoid overwriting completely. For example, when the underlying pixel is white (that is, the pixel value is zero), logical drawing such as drawing a pixel of the tint block image corresponding to the pixel is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S2712, and the drawing of the tint block image is finished.

  Next, an example of creating a latent image in conjunction with the print layout will be described. When the “Link to print layout” check box 2217 on the user interface screen of FIG. 10 is checked, a latent image is created in conjunction with the print layout.

  Also here, an example of 4-up printing will be described. The present invention can be applied with various layout functions such as free enlargement / reduction, poster printing, standard enlargement / reduction, and bookbinding printing.

  A latent image background region designation image used for drawing a tint block image will be described. The latent image background area designation image is an image for identifying the latent image portion and the background portion, and is, for example, a binary (1 bit / pixel) image in which the latent image portion is 1 and the background portion is 0.

  FIG. 11 shows a method of creating a latent image background area designation image in the present invention. The latent image background area designation image created here is read in step S2702 of FIG. 8 and becomes a component for creating a tint block image.

  The process of FIG. 11 will be described. In step S1301, first, a latent image background area designation image area is secured. This area is a binary image having the same size as the effective print area of the physical page. This area is initialized with a background value (0) as an initial value.

  In step S1302, it is determined whether or not the radio button 2217 (FIG. 10) for selecting the “link to layout” item is selected. If the “link to layout” item is not selected, the process advances to step S1308. Steps S1308 and S1309 are well-known techniques. In step S1308, an effective print area for the physical page is calculated, and in step S1309, a latent image portion is drawn. Thereafter, this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the “link to layout” item is selected, the process advances to step S1303. In step S1303, a counter that counts the number of logical pages per physical page (one side of the printing paper) is initialized to zero. In step 1304, it is determined whether or not this counter has reached a preset number of logical pages per physical page. If it is determined that this counter is equal to the number of logical pages, this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that this counter is not equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step S1305. In step S1305, the counter value is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step S1306. In step S1306, the drawing area of the current logical page is obtained from the position where the current logical page is arranged in the physical page and the enlargement / reduction ratio. Here, the offset amount and the enlargement / reduction ratio (magnification) are also obtained for the logical page at the same time.

  In step S1307, the latent image is written in the latent image background area designated image area. Here, the latent image portion (1) is written into the effective print area of the corresponding logical page obtained previously, taking into account the offset and the enlargement / reduction ratio (magnification).

  When the writing of the latent image background area designating image for one logical page is completed, the process returns to step S1304. In step S1304, it is determined again whether the counter has reached the preset number of logical pages per physical page. If it is determined that they are equal, the latent image background area designation image is further written to the next logical page. On the other hand, if it is determined that they are not equal, it is determined that the latent image background area designating image for one physical page has been completed, and this process ends.

  As described above, since text information and image information are input to the latent image portion, these text information and image information are reproduced in a copy so that they can be recognized at a higher density than the background portion. .

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a latent image background area designation image drawn by the above method. FIG. 12A shows an example in which the latent image portion of the logical page is indicated by black (1) and the background portion is indicated by white (0).

  The latent image background area designation image when the latent image portion in each logical page shown in FIG. 12A is offset-shifted and reduced, and written into the latent image portion and background portion of the physical page to make 4-up. An example of this is shown in FIG. In FIG. 12B, latent image images having the same contents are arranged in all the logical page areas. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the contents can be different for each logical page.

  FIG. 12G shows an example in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image printed at the same magnification as shown in FIGS. 12C, 12D, 12E, and 12F is printed by the above-described method. The image in FIG. 12G is the relationship between the relative positions and sizes of “Page 1”, “Page 2”, “Page 3”, and “Page 4” that are original documents and “COPY” that is a latent image. 4-up printing is performed while the image is held. This point is different from the image of FIG. As described above, the size of only the latent image portion is changed in conjunction with the enlargement / reduction (magnification / magnification) of the logical page, but the characteristics as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are maintained.

  Here, the 4-up example has been described, but the present invention is naturally not limited to this example. If the layout change operation is accompanied by enlargement / reduction, no matter what layout conversion is applied, the conversion similar to the conversion method can be performed at the time of creating the latent image background area designation image.

(Other)
Note that the present invention can be applied to an apparatus (copier, printer, facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system consisting of a plurality of devices (eg, computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). May be.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by causing a computer (or CPU or MPU) of a system or apparatus to read out and execute a program code that realizes the procedure of the flowchart shown in the above-described embodiment from a storage medium. .

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. Furthermore, the case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code and the OS running on the computer being performed. .

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the case where the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration for print processing in a host computer 3000. It is a figure which shows an example of the initial screen of the user interface regarding a tint block print. It is a figure which shows an example of the dialog for editing each detailed setting of a tint block print. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the additional printing information regarding the setting information of a tint block print. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the drawing process in watermark printing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the drawing process in overprinting. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a tint block image drawing process. It is a figure which shows the example of a production | generation of a tint block image which performed the boundary process. It is a figure which shows an example of a user interface dialog. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of preparation of a latent image background area designation | designated image. It is a figure which shows a latent image background area | region designation | designated image and an output result. It is a figure which shows the state of the dot in a tint block image. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that a tint block image is visualized at the time of copying. It is a figure which shows the output result by a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1, 12 CPU
2, 19 RAM
3, 13 ROM
4, 15 System bus 16 Printing unit interface 17 Printing unit 18 Input unit 1500 Printer 1501 Operation unit 3000 Computer

Claims (8)

A scaling means for scaling the content image at a first magnification;
Generating means for generating the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on a first image indicating a boundary between the latent image and the background image in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image;
A combining unit that combines the content image scaled by the scaling unit and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated by the generating unit;
The information processing apparatus, wherein the generation unit scales the first image at a magnification based on the first magnification, and generates the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the scaled image.   In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, a first dot that can be reproduced when copied, a latent image region in which a second dot smaller than the first dot that can be reproduced is arranged, and the second dot are arranged. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a background area.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising boundary processing means for performing boundary processing on a portion where the latent image area and the background area are switched. A scaling process for scaling the content image at a first magnification;
A generation step of generating the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on a first image indicating a boundary between the latent image and the background image in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image;
A composition step of synthesizing the content image scaled in the scaling step and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated by the generation unit;
Controlling the information processing apparatus, wherein the generating step scales the first image at a magnification based on the first magnification, and generates the tint block image based on the scaled image. Method.   In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, a first dot that can be reproduced when copied, a latent image region in which a second dot smaller than the first dot that can be reproduced is arranged, and the second dot are arranged. 5. The information processing apparatus control method according to claim 4, further comprising a background area.   6. The control method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a boundary processing step of performing a boundary process on a portion where the latent image area and the background area are switched. Computer
A scaling means for scaling the content image at a first magnification;
Generating means for generating the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on a first image indicating a boundary between the latent image and the background image in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image;
Function as a combining unit that combines the content image scaled by the scaling unit and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generated by the generating unit;
A program for causing the generation means to scale the first image at a magnification based on the first magnification, and to generate the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the scaled image. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 7.

Images