JP2008117088A - Device and method for generating print data - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily print an image concerning ink jet type printing, where each pixel is a combination of pieces of color information, by reliably masking print data with mask data. <P>SOLUTION: A print data generation method includes: an extraction step (step S801) for extracting print setting information, print data, and mask data, from an information storage part for storing the print setting information, print data, and mask data which is divided into a print area and a nonprint area so as to cover the whole print data; a deformation step for deforming the mask data, based on the print setting information, so as to allow the mask data to cover the print data when the print data is different from the mask data in size; and a generation step (step S805) for generating synthesis print data, where only a part corresponding to the nonprint area in the print data is masked, by performing the logical operation of each piece pixel information constituting the mask data and each piece of pixel information constituting the print data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

   The present invention relates to a print data generation apparatus and a print data generation method.

  In recent years, with the diversification of user needs, the shapes of printable areas on labels such as CDs and DVDs have been varied. In addition, various shapes such as a business card type, a star shape, and a heart shape are being used for the shape of the CD itself.

  In Patent Document 1, the label surface of a CD is divided into a printing area and a non-printing area, and the printing area is further divided into a plurality of element areas, and image data corresponding to the printing area is obtained from one image data for each element area. A print data generation device configured to generate a print image from cut out and cut out element regions is described. As described above, by dividing the print area into a plurality of element areas and generating a print image by combining the element areas, it is possible to cope with complicated image printing in which a non-print area is complicated in the print area. It has become.

  By the way, there is known a technique called overlay printing in which a fixed form or data of a predetermined character or figure is registered in advance in a printer, and text data transmitted from a host computer is superimposed on the data to perform printing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a print control apparatus including an overlay data storage unit that hierarchizes overlay data used for overlay printing into a plurality of layers and manages each layer. The overlay data is, for example, data for printing a frame of a fixed form such as a form, or data for printing a character, a figure, a pattern or the like on the background of text data, which is called a stamp mark or a watermark.

  Patent Document 3 describes a print control method that can synthesize overlay data across a plurality of print sheets and perform spread printing. One overlay data is divided corresponding to a spread page to generate divided overlay data, and the generated divided overlay data and the print data are combined in accordance with the print position at the time of bookbinding.

  Patent Document 4 describes a technique for masking a non-printing area with a mask image. As shown in FIG. 13, in the basic image G00, dots corresponding to pixels to be printed (for example, each character portion of ABCDE shown in black) are logically positive positive dots, and other portions (background of each character). Assuming that the image (data) is composed of a dot matrix in which the negative white dots are logically negative negative dots, the mask image MS0 in FIG. 4B constitutes a non-printing area (image data) NA0. This is an image (data) composed of a dot matrix in which the dots to be printed are negative dots and the print area (image data) ES0 is a positive dot. For this reason, by performing a logical product operation between corresponding dots (that is, a logical operation in which only the portion between positive dots is a positive dot and the other is a negative dot), the result shown in FIG. As described above, the print image (data) GS0 in which the non-print area (image data) NA0 in the basic image (data) G00 is masked can be easily created.

  In Patent Document 5, the position and size of the selected image area in the printable area are displayed on the position information display unit in conjunction with the operation of the image area, and the user can determine the position and size of the image area. A layout control apparatus is described that can lay out an image area while viewing the image and can lay out the image area at a position desired by a user.

JP 2004-090382 A JP 2003-303089 A JP 2006-139702 A JP 2005-132051 A JP 2004-015215 A

  However, as described in Patent Document 1, in the method of dividing a print area into a plurality of element areas, the print area must be divided into a large number of element areas as the print image becomes complicated, and a plurality of operations are performed. Since steps are included, the calculation processing may take time as the image becomes complicated.

  In addition, as described in Patent Document 4, by applying overlay technology and masking a print image with a mask image, as a result, only a non-print area of the print image is masked, and thus a complicated image However, if the image sizes (sizes) of the print image and the mask image are different, the non-print area cannot be masked properly.

  As described in Patent Document 5, a method in which a user lays out an image area while observing the position and size of the image area is employed, and even if a print image and a mask image are combined, the user's eye scale is used. There is a possibility that accurate alignment cannot be performed and the non-printing area cannot be masked.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that when print data is masked with mask overlay data (mask data), the print data is reliably masked. In addition, in an inkjet printer that prints bitmap-format print data in which each pixel is composed of a combination of a plurality of color information, mask overlay technology can be used to easily print complicated images. The purpose is to be able to.

The above problem can be solved by the following means.
The print data generation device of the present invention includes print information, print data, and mask data that is divided into a print area and a non-print area and covers the entire print data,
An information extraction unit that extracts the print setting information, the print data, and the mask data from the information storage unit;
A mask data processing unit that deforms the mask data based on the print setting information so that the print data is covered by the mask data when the print data and the mask data are different in size;
By performing a logical operation on each piece of pixel information constituting the mask data and each piece of pixel information constituting the print data, composite print data in which only a portion corresponding to the non-print area of the print data is masked is generated. And a combined print data generation unit.
Further, the print data generation method of the present invention includes the print setting information, the print data, the mask data that is divided into a print area and a non-print area and covers the entire print data, from the information storage unit that stores the print data An extraction step of extracting setting information, the print data, and the mask data;
A step of deforming the mask data based on the print setting information so that the print data is covered by the mask data when the print data and the mask data are different in size;
By performing a logical operation on each piece of pixel information constituting the mask data and each piece of pixel information constituting the print data, composite print data in which only a portion corresponding to the non-print area of the print data is masked is generated. Generating step

  According to the above configuration, when the print data and the mask data are different in size, the mask data is deformed based on the print setting information so that the print data is covered with the mask data. Therefore, it is possible to reliably mask the print data. In addition, since the composite print data is generated by performing a logical operation on each pixel information constituting the mask data and each pixel information constituting the print data, a bitmap in which each pixel is constituted by a combination of a plurality of color information The mask overlay technology can also be adopted in an ink jet printer that prints print data in a format.

In the present invention, the print setting information includes a vertical size of the print data and the mask data, and a horizontal size of the print data and the mask data.
The mask data processing unit obtains a vertical ratio of the print data to a vertical size of the mask data and a horizontal ratio of the print data to a horizontal size of the mask data, and the vertical ratio The mask data is enlarged or reduced according to a larger ratio of the horizontal ratio.
In the present invention, the print setting information includes a vertical size of the print data and the mask data, and a horizontal size of the print data and the mask data.
In the transformation step, a vertical ratio of the vertical size of the print data to a vertical size of the mask data and a horizontal ratio of the horizontal size of the print data to the horizontal size of the mask data are obtained, and the vertical ratio and the horizontal width are obtained. The mask data is enlarged or reduced according to a larger ratio, which is the larger ratio.

  According to the above configuration, the mask data according to the larger ratio of the vertical ratio of the print data to the vertical size of the mask data and the horizontal ratio of the print data to the horizontal size of the mask data. Is configured to enlarge or reduce. Therefore, when the print data is larger than the mask data, when the print data is smaller than the mask data, when the aspect ratio of the print data and the mask data is different, the print data can be reliably masked with the mask data. is there.

In the present invention, when each pixel information constituting the print data is composed of a combination of three colors of red (Red), green (Green), and blue (Blue),
The mask data processing unit creates two-color mask data in which each pixel information corresponding to the non-printing area is white and each pixel information corresponding to the printing area is black.
The composite print data generation unit performs a logical OR operation on the print data and the two-color mask data.
In the present invention, when each pixel information constituting the print data is composed of a combination of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B),
In the transformation step, two-color mask data is created in which each pixel information corresponding to the non-printing area is white and each pixel information corresponding to the printing area is black
In the generating step, a logical OR operation is performed on the print data and the two-color mask data.

In the present invention, when each pixel information constituting the print data is a combination including at least three colors of indigo (Cyan), crimson (Magenta), and yellow (Yellow),
The mask data processing unit creates two-color mask data in which each pixel information corresponding to the non-printing region is white and each pixel information corresponding to the printing region is black.
The composite print data generation unit performs a logical AND operation on the print data and the two-color mask data.
In the present invention, when each pixel information constituting the print data is a combination including at least three colors of indigo (Cyan), crimson (Magenta), and yellow (Yellow),
In the transformation step, two-color mask data is created in which each pixel information corresponding to the non-printing area is white and each pixel information corresponding to the printing area is black
In the generation step, a logical AND operation is performed on the print data and the two-color mask data.

  According to the above configuration, when each pixel information constituting the print data is composed of a combination of three colors of red (Red), green (Green), and blue (Blue), a logical OR operation is performed, and the print data is When each piece of pixel information is a combination including at least three colors of indigo (Cyan), crimson (Magenta), and yellow (Yellow), only a logical AND operation is performed to generate composite print data. Therefore, it is possible to easily generate a print image simply by taking a simple calculation step. In addition, mask overlay technology can also be used in inkjet printers that print bitmap format print data in which each pixel is composed of a combination of multiple color information, making it easy to print images of various shapes Can be generated.

In the present invention, a mask data creation unit for creating the mask data based on mask data creation information is provided.
In the present invention, the method further comprises a mask data creation step for creating the mask data based on the mask data creation information.

  According to the above configuration, since new mask data can be created based on the mask data creation information, various mask data can be created to easily generate and print a complicated print image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a print data generation apparatus and a print data generation method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the following description will be made assuming that a host computer that gives a print instruction and print data to an image forming apparatus such as a printer is provided with the print data generation apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a printing system including a host computer equipped with a print data generation apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus connected to the host computer so as to be communicable.
The host computers 100 and 200 are terminals used by a user who performs document creation, print setting, print instruction, and the like using document creation software. The host computers 100 and 200 can transmit and receive data to and from the image forming apparatus 300 via the network 104. Here, the network 104 is a local area network (LAN) or the like, and any network configuration may be used as long as the image forming apparatus 300 and the host computers 100 and 200 can transmit and receive data. Note that the configuration of various terminals connected to the network 104 in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and it goes without saying that there are various configuration examples depending on applications and purposes. In other words, as long as the function of the present invention is realized, a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN (local area network), whether it is a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices. Even so, the present invention can be applied.

(About the hardware configuration of the host computer)
Next, the hardware configuration of the host computer 100 or 200 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram showing the mechanical configuration of the host computer in this embodiment. Although the host computer 200 will be described here, the host computer 100 may have the same mechanical configuration as the host computer 200.

  The host computer 200 has a configuration in which a CPU (central processing unit) 201 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 211 based on a control program stored in the ROM 203 or the external memory 210. . Explaining each device connected to the system bus 211, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 201. In the ROM 203 or the external memory 210, a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) that is a control program of the CPU 201, an operating system program, and various functions necessary for realizing the functions executed by each image forming apparatus or each host computer. Programs and so on are stored. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading various programs necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 202 and executing the programs. Here, the various programs and the like are programs such as a document processing program stored in the ROM 203 or the external memory 210 and various data such as various graphics, images, font data, and tables.

  A keyboard controller 206 controls key inputs from the keyboard 209 and a pointing device (not shown). A display device controller 205 controls display on a display device 208 such as a CRT display or a liquid crystal display. The memory controller 207 controls access to an external memory 210 such as a hard disk (HD) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like. A communication I / F (communication interface) 204 is connected to the image forming apparatus 300 via the communication line 104 and can perform bidirectional communication.

Note that the CPU 201 executes, for example, outline font development (rasterization) processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, so that what is viewed on the display device 208 can be directly output by the image forming apparatus 300, so-called WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get).
Further, the CPU 201 opens various registered windows based on commands instructed by a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display device 208 and executes various data processing.

(Hardware configuration of image forming apparatus)
Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 300 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. In the image forming apparatus 300, the CPU 301 comprehensively controls access to each device connected to the system bus 310 based on a control program stored in the ROM 303 or the external memory 309, and a printing unit interface (I / F ) Output an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 307 connected via 305. A communication I / F (communication interface) 304 is connected to the host computer 200 via the communication line 104 and is capable of bidirectional communication.

  A RAM 302 functions as a work area and is a main memory of the CPU 301. The memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). Access to an external memory 309 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller 306. The external memory 309 is connected as an option, and stores form data, an emulation program, font data, and the like. Further, the number of external memories 309 is not limited to one, and at least one external memory 309 is provided. In addition to internal fonts, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected. May be.

  Next, an outline of operations related to composite print data generation performed by the host computer 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a print setting screen displayed on the display device 208, FIG. 5 is a property screen, FIG. 6 is a page option screen, and FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram for explaining internal processing performed by the CPU 201 in composite print data generation processing. .

  When the CPU 201 detects a print command, the CPU 201 calls a program for managing the printing device from the external memory 210 or the ROM 203, for example, a printer driver program, etc., to the RAM 202, and outputs the output device such as the display device 208 by controlling the printer driver program. A print setting screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, and preparation for printing is made.

The print setting screen shown in FIG. 4 is a screen on which selection of a printer that performs print output, designation of a print range, designation of the number of copies, and the like can be set. When the “OK” button 501 is pressed, the CPU 201 detects this. Execute print processing. When the “cancel” button 502 is pressed, the CPU 201 detects this and cancels the printing process.
When the “property” button 503 displayed on the print setting screen is pressed, the CPU 201 detects this and displays the property screen shown in FIG. The property screen is a property screen of the printer selected on the print setting screen of FIG.

The property screen shown in FIG. 5 is a screen in which a paper source, a paper discharge destination, a color mode, and the like can be set. When each print setting on the property screen is made, the CPU 201 detects this and displays a “preview screen” 601. Displays a print preview screen based on each property print setting. For example, when “wide type” is selected in “media type” 602, a print preview of a wide type medium is displayed on the “preview screen” 601.
When the “OK” button 604 is pressed, the CPU 201 stores the print setting information set on the property screen of FIG. 5 in the information storage unit 220 such as the RAM 202 or the external memory 210, and closes the property screen shown in FIG.

When the “page option” button 603 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed, the CPU 201 detects this and displays the page option screen shown in FIG. When the overlay data is selected in the “overlay data” combo box 702 on the page option screen shown in FIG. 6, the “mask overlay” check box 701 is checked, and the OK button 703 is pressed, the information extraction unit 230 causes the information storage unit 220 to display information. , Mask overlay data (hereinafter referred to as “mask data”), print data, and print setting information designated in the “overlay data” combo box 702 are extracted.
When the “Cancel” button 704 is pressed, the CPU 201 detects this and closes the page option screen without creating mask data.

  The print setting information includes information on whether or not to perform mask overlay processing. When mask overlay processing is performed, the horizontal size and vertical size (Lx, Ly) of the mask data selected on the page option screen, At least the horizontal size and vertical size (Px, Py) of the print data are included.

  Here, the mask data is overlay data created with only two monochrome colors used for distinguishing a print area from a non-print area. The process of combining the mask data with the print data and generating the combined print data in which only the portion corresponding to the non-printing area of the print data is masked is referred to as a mask overlay process.

  Based on the print setting information and mask data extracted by the information extraction unit 230, the mask data processing unit 240 determines the vertical ratio (Py / Ly) of the vertical size (Py) of the print data to the vertical size (Ly) of the mask data. Then, the horizontal ratio (Px / Lx) of the horizontal size (Px) of the print data with respect to the horizontal size (Lx) of the mask data is obtained, and the mask data is enlarged according to the larger ratio of the vertical ratio and the horizontal ratio. Or reduce.

  The composite print data generation unit 250 covers the print data extracted from the information storage unit 220 by the information extraction unit 230 with the mask data processed by the mask data processing unit 240, and stores each pixel information and print data constituting the mask data. By performing a logical operation on each piece of pixel information, composite print data in which only a portion corresponding to the non-print region of the print data is masked is generated.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the mask data stored in advance in the ROM 203 or the like is extracted by the information extraction unit 230 and processed into the extracted mask data by the mask data processing unit 240. It is not necessary to store in advance in the ROM 203 or the like, and it can be newly created. In this case, it is also possible to provide a mask data creation unit 260 that creates mask data based on mask data creation information input by a user via a mask data creation screen or the like. Mask data newly created by the mask data creation unit 260 is stored in the information storage unit 220 and can be selected as new mask data in the “overlay data” combo box 702 of the page option screen shown in FIG.

(About overlay printing)
Next, overlay printing processing using mask overlay data will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is an overall flowchart for explaining the overlay printing process, FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the mask data creation process, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart explaining the mask data transformation process. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram specifically showing the mask data deformation process.

  First, the information extraction unit 230 extracts print setting information stored in the information storage unit 220 (step S801). It is determined whether or not overlay printing is set from the extracted print setting information. If the print setting information is set to execute mask overlay processing (step S802: Yes), mask data creation processing is executed. (Step S804). When the mask data is generated by the mask data processing unit 240, the composite print data generation unit 250 combines the generated mask data with the print data to generate composite print data (step S805), and generates a print job. Then, the composite print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300 via the communication I / F 204 (step S806).

  On the other hand, if it is not set to execute the mask overlay process in step S802 (step S802: No), a print job is created, and normal print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300 via the communication I / F 204. (Step S806).

(About mask data creation processing)
Next, the mask data creation process will be described.
Based on the file path stored in the overlay structure, the information extraction unit 230 extracts the mask data from the information storage unit 220, and the mask data processing unit 240 covers the entire print data in black and white mask data. Is created (step S901). Specifically, the information extraction unit 230 extracts the horizontal size and vertical size values (Lx, Ly) of the mask data included in the print setting information (step S902), and the horizontal size and vertical size values of the print data ( Px, Py) are extracted (step S903). Based on these vertical and horizontal size values, a mask data transformation process is performed (step S904).

(About mask data transformation processing)
The vertical and horizontal values of the mask data extracted in step S902 are compared with the vertical and horizontal values of the print data extracted in step S903. If the vertical and horizontal values are equal (Lx = Px, Ly = Py), the mask data and the print data Therefore, the size of the mask data is not changed by setting the scale / magnification ratio to the same magnification (step S1001: Yes, step S1005).

  On the other hand, if the vertical and horizontal values are not equal (Lx ≠ Px, Ly ≠ Py), the vertical ratio (Py / Ly) of the vertical size of the print data to the vertical size of the mask data and the print data for the horizontal size of the mask data It is determined whether or not the horizontal size horizontal ratio (Px / Lx) is equal. If they are equal (step S1002: Yes), the vertical ratio or the horizontal ratio is stored as the overlay scale / enlargement ratio S, and the mask data is multiplied by S. (Step S1004, step S1005).

  If the aspect ratio and the aspect ratio are different in step S1002 (step S1002: No), the larger ratio of the aspect ratio and the aspect ratio is stored as the overlay scale ratio or enlargement ratio S, and the mask data is stored in S. The image is enlarged or reduced twice (steps S1003 and S1005). Overlay data covering the entire print data can be created by the above processing.

  Here, a method for determining the overlay scale ratio or the enlargement ratio S when the vertical ratio and the horizontal ratio are equal in step S1002 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in FIG. 11A, when mask data M1 having a horizontal size of X / 2 and a vertical size of Y / 2 is selected for print data P having a horizontal size of X and a vertical size of Y, The horizontal ratio of the print data P to the horizontal size of the mask data M1 is Px / Lx = X / (X / 2) = 2, and the vertical ratio of the print data to the vertical size of the mask data M1 is Py. / Ly = Y / (Y / 2) = 2. Therefore, the overlay enlargement ratio S = vertical ratio or horizontal ratio = 2 is saved, and the mask data M1 is enlarged twice to obtain post-deformation mask data M1 ′.

In addition, the determination method of the overlay scale ratio / enlargement ratio S when the vertical ratio and the horizontal ratio are different in step S1002 will be described based on FIG. 11B. In FIG. 11B, the horizontal size is X and the vertical size is For print data P with Y, the horizontal size is X / 2 and the vertical size is Y /
When the mask data M2 to be 4 is selected, the horizontal ratio of the print data P to the horizontal size of the mask data M2 is Px / Lx = X / (X / 2) = 2, and the vertical size of the mask data M2 The vertical ratio of the vertical size of the print data to Py / Ly = Y / (Y / 4) = 4. In this case, the vertical ratio having a large ratio is stored as the overlay enlargement ratio S = 4, the mask data M2 is enlarged four times, and the deformed mask data M2 ′ is obtained.

  Thus, when the vertical ratio and the horizontal ratio are different, mask data that reliably covers the entire print data P can be created by employing the larger ratio and enlarging or reducing the ratio.

(About composite print data generation processing)
Next, the composite print data generation process in step S805 of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram specifically showing the composite print data generation process.
<Method using logical OR operator (+)>
Each pixel information constituting the print data P is composed of a combination of three colors [red (R), green (G), blue (B)], and is expressed by gradations of each color 0-255. In step S901 in FIG. 9, the color data of each pixel in the non-printing area Ma of the mask data M is black [0, 0, 0], and the color data of each pixel in the printing area Mb is white [255, 255]. , 255] (hereinafter referred to as [FF, FF, FF]), black and white two-color mask data M is created.
When white and black are reversed, the color data of each pixel in the non-printing area Ma ′ is white [FF, FF, FF], and the color data of each pixel in the printing area Mb ′ is black [0, 0, 0. The mask data M ′ is obtained.

  Assuming that the color data of the pixels constituting the colored area Pa of the print data P is [100, 100, 100], the color data of each pixel constituting the print data P and the color data of each pixel constituting the mask data M ′. When the logical OR operation is performed, the color data of the pixel subjected to the OR operation on white [FF, FF, FF] in the non-printing area Ma ′ is always white [FF, FF, FF]. Printing white data means that printing is not performed in the image forming apparatus 300, and as a result, composite print data MP in which the non-printing area Ma ′ is masked can be obtained.

  On the other hand, as a result of the inversion of the print area Mb ′, the print area Mb ′ becomes black [0, 0, 0], and black [0, When the logical OR operation (+) is performed on the data of 0,0], the original color data remains as it is for the pixel that has been ORed on the black [0,0,0], and the print data P is not processed. The color data of the pixels constituting the colored region Pb also remains as it is. As a result, since the color data [100, 100, 100] of the original print data is printed as it is in the print area Mb ′, the checkered pattern shown in FIG. 12 is expressed only in the area corresponding to the print area Mb ′. The composite print data MP can be obtained.

<Method using logical AND operator (×)>
Each pixel information constituting the print data P is composed of a combination including at least three colors of [Cyan, deep red (Magenta), yellow (Yellow)], and is expressed by gradations of each color 0 to 255. In the mask data M, the color data of each pixel in the non-printing area Ma is black [FF, FF, FF], and the color data of each pixel in the printing area Mb is white [0, 0, 0]. ], Black and white two-color mask data M is created.
When white and black are reversed, the color data of each pixel in the non-printing area Ma ′ is white [0, 0, 0], and the color data of each pixel in the printing area Mb ′ is black [FF, FF, FF. The mask data M ′ is obtained.

  Assuming that the color data of the pixels constituting the colored area Pa of the print data P is [100, 100, 100], the color data of each pixel constituting the print data P and the color data of each pixel constituting the mask data M ′. When the logical AND operation is performed, the color data of the pixel subjected to the AND operation on white [0, 0, 0] in the non-printing area Ma ′ is always white [0, 0, 0]. Printing white data means that printing is not performed in the image forming apparatus 300, and as a result, composite print data MP in which the non-printing area Ma ′ is masked can be obtained.

  On the other hand, the printing area Mb ′ is inverted as a result of black [FF, FF, FF], and black [FF, FF, FF] is compared with the color data [100, 100, 100] of the pixels constituting the colored area Pa of the printing data P. When the logical AND operation (×) is performed on the data of FF, FF], the original color data remains as it is for the pixel color data on which the AND operation is performed on black [FF, FF, FF], and the non-print data P The color data of the pixels constituting the colored region Pb also remains as it is. As a result, since the color data [100, 100, 100] of the original print data is printed as it is in the print area Mb ′, only the area corresponding to the print area Mb ′ is synthesized in which the checkerboard pattern shown in FIG. 12 is expressed. The print data MP can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the host computer including the print data generation apparatus of the present embodiment, when the print data P and the mask data M are different in size, printing is performed so that the print data P is covered with the mask data M. The mask data M is modified based on the setting information. Therefore, it is possible to reliably mask the print data P. Further, since the composite print data MP is generated by performing a logical operation on each pixel information constituting the mask data M and each pixel information constituting the print data P, each pixel is constituted by a combination of a plurality of color information. The mask overlay technique can also be adopted in an inkjet printer that prints the bitmap format print data P.

  Further, according to the host computer equipped with the print data generation apparatus of the present embodiment, the vertical ratio (Py / Ly) of the vertical size of the print data P to the vertical size of the mask data M and the printing with respect to the horizontal size of the mask data M. The mask data M is configured to be enlarged or reduced in accordance with the larger one of the horizontal ratios (Px / Lx) of the horizontal size of the data P. Therefore, when the print data P is larger than the mask data M, the print data P is smaller than the mask data M, the print data P and the mask data M have different vertical and horizontal ratios, the print data P is surely used as the mask data. It is possible to mask with M.

  Further, according to the host computer equipped with the print data generation apparatus of this embodiment, each pixel information constituting the print data P is a combination of three colors of red (Red), green (Green), and blue (Blue). In the case where each pixel information constituting the print data P is a combination including at least three colors of indigo (Cyan), crimson (Magenta), and yellow (Yellow). Since it is possible to generate the composite print data MP only by performing a logical AND operation, it is possible to easily generate a print image by simply performing simple calculation steps. In addition, mask overlay technology can also be adopted in an ink jet printer that prints bitmap-format print data P in which each pixel is configured by a combination of a plurality of pieces of color information, and it is easy to print images of various shapes. Can be generated.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a printing system including a host computer having a print data generation apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus connected to the host computer so as to be communicable with each other. It is an example of the block diagram which shows the mechanical structure of the host computer in this embodiment. 1 is an example of a block diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 4 is a print setting screen displayed on a display device of a host computer. It is a property screen displayed on the display device of a host computer. It is a page option screen displayed on the display device of the host computer. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating internal processing performed by a CPU of a host computer in a composite print data generation unit. 6 is an overall flowchart for explaining overlay printing processing; It is a flowchart for demonstrating a mask data creation process. It is a flowchart explaining a mask data deformation | transformation process. It is the schematic diagram which represented the mask data deformation | transformation process concretely. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram specifically illustrating a composite print data generation process. It is a figure explaining the conventional mask processing which employ | adopted logic operation.

Explanation of symbols

200: Host computer, 201: CPU, 220: Information storage unit, 230: Information extraction unit, 240: Mask data processing unit, 250: Composite print data generation unit, 260: Mask data generation unit, P: Print data, M: Mask data, Ma, Ma ′: non-printing area, Mb, Mb ′: printing area, MP: composite print data

Claims (10)

An information storage unit that stores print setting information, print data, and mask data that is divided into a print area and a non-print area and covers the entire print data;
An information extraction unit that extracts the print setting information, the print data, and the mask data from the information storage unit;
A mask data processing unit that deforms the mask data based on the print setting information so that the print data is covered by the mask data when the print data and the mask data are different in size;
By performing a logical operation on each piece of pixel information constituting the mask data and each piece of pixel information constituting the print data, composite print data in which only a portion corresponding to the non-print area of the print data is masked is generated. And a combined print data generation unit. The print setting information includes a vertical size of the print data and the mask data, and a horizontal size of the print data and the mask data.
The mask data processing unit obtains a vertical ratio of the print data to a vertical size of the mask data and a horizontal ratio of the print data to a horizontal size of the mask data, and the vertical ratio The print data generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mask data is enlarged or reduced according to a larger ratio of the horizontal ratio. When each pixel information constituting the print data is composed of a combination of three colors of red (Red), green (Green), and blue (Blue),
The mask data processing unit creates two-color mask data in which each pixel information corresponding to the non-printing area is white and each pixel information corresponding to the printing area is black.
The print data generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite print data generation unit performs a logical OR operation on the print data and the two-color mask data. When each pixel information constituting the print data is a combination including at least three colors of indigo (Cyan), crimson (Magenta), and yellow (Yellow),
The mask data processing unit creates two-color mask data in which each pixel information corresponding to the non-printing area is white and each pixel information corresponding to the printing area is black.
The print data generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite print data generation unit performs a logical AND operation on the print data and the two-color mask data.   5. The print data generation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mask data generation unit that generates the mask data based on mask data generation information. Print setting information, print data, and mask data that is divided into a print area and a non-print area and covers the entire print data, from an information storage unit that stores the print setting information, the print data, and the mask data An extraction step for extracting,
A step of deforming the mask data based on the print setting information so that the print data is covered by the mask data when the print data and the mask data are different in size;
By performing a logical operation on each piece of pixel information constituting the mask data and each piece of pixel information constituting the print data, composite print data in which only a portion corresponding to the non-print area of the print data is masked is generated. A print data generation method. The print setting information includes a vertical size of the print data and the mask data, and a horizontal size of the print data and the mask data.
In the transformation step, a vertical ratio of the vertical size of the print data to a vertical size of the mask data and a horizontal ratio of the horizontal size of the print data to the horizontal size of the mask data are obtained, and the vertical ratio and the horizontal width are obtained. The print data generation method according to claim 6, wherein the mask data is enlarged or reduced according to a larger ratio. When each pixel information constituting the print data is composed of a combination of three colors of red (Red), green (Green), and blue (Blue),
In the deformation step, two-color mask data is created in which each pixel information corresponding to the non-printing area is white and each pixel information corresponding to the printing area is black.
8. The print data generation method according to claim 6, wherein the generation step performs a logical OR operation on the print data and the two-color mask data. When each pixel information constituting the print data is a combination including at least three colors of indigo (Cyan), crimson (Magenta), and yellow (Yellow),
In the deformation step, two-color mask data is created in which each pixel information corresponding to the non-printing area is white and each pixel information corresponding to the printing area is black.
8. The print data generation method according to claim 6, wherein in the generation step, a logical AND operation is performed on the print data and the two-color mask data.   5. The print data generation method according to claim 1, further comprising a mask data generation step of generating the mask data based on mask data generation information.

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