JP2012073624A - Apparatus and method for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that settings (paper type setting, printing output method setting, and so on) for exhibiting printing effects (glossing effect and matt effect) to the maximum are very complicated and it is very difficult for a user to manually set them.SOLUTION: Upon input of image data desired to be printed by a user and a desire for the printing effect to transparent form image data, the paper kind, conversion of the transparent form image data and the print output method for achieving the printing effect are automatically set, and the image data is printed and output.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of automatically performing many complicated settings that occur in order to realize selection of a visual effect when performing print output using transparent toner.

  In recent years, digital printing technology has been steadily increasing its utility value in the on-demand printing market and the small number of document printing market. In particular, full-color printing using electrophotographic technology has an advantage over other printing technologies in terms of productivity, printing cost, and ease of maintenance, and is rapidly expanding its market. Among them, in particular, not only full-color printing by electrophotographic printing using conventional CMYBK and four-color toners, but also multi-color printing methods using special toners are attracting attention. The highly specialized special printing market is also in the horizon. Examples of the special toner include a transparent toner that absorbs unevenness on the surface of the printed material and realizes high gloss, and a light toner that can suppress roughness of the highlight portion. By using special toner, new added value different from normal digital printing can be obtained, and the world of digital printing can be further expanded. In view of the above background, color multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as MFPs) on which special toner is mounted have been put on the market.

  Among special toners, in particular, transparent toners have been proposed to be used to compensate for the lack of gloss that the user feels with respect to the printed output. In Patent Document 1, non-coated paper is used when the coated paper is not mounted when printing on the coated paper is attempted. For the purpose of improving glossiness by using a transparent toner in a portion where the background is white. Proposal to use transparent toner. In addition, Patent Document 2 proposes the use of a transparent ink in order to maintain a uniform glossiness in a photograph by using a transparent ink at a place where no ink is used in the photograph. ing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-047403 JP 2005-119279 A

  However, the purpose of using the transparent toner is only to exhibit a gloss effect. The transparent toner is not used only for producing a gloss effect. Depending on the paper and printing method used, it is also possible to exert a matte effect. Also, settings (such as paper type settings and print output method settings) for maximizing such printing effects (glossy effect, matte effect) are very complex and are very difficult for users to set manually. The problem of being difficult is left.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image selection unit that receives selection of an image indicating an area to which transparent toner is added to a print object, and a transparent image when the image selected by the selection unit is added to the print object. From the display means for displaying the effect by the different printing method with the toner added, and one of the different printing methods using the transparent toner having the indicated effect is received from the image displayed by the display means. The image forming apparatus includes: a printing method selecting unit; and a forming unit that forms an image using the transparent toner by the printing method selected by the printing method selecting unit.

  An image forming method of the present invention includes an image selection step for receiving selection of an image indicating an area to which transparent toner is added to a print object, and a transparent image when the image selected in the selection step is added to the print object. A display step for displaying to show the effect of the different printing method to which the toner has been added, and a selection of one of the different printing methods using the transparent toner having the indicated effect are received from the image displayed by the display step. A printing method selection step and a forming unit that forms an image using the transparent toner by the printing method selected in the printing method selection step.

  According to the following description, the present invention is superior to the prior art in that a user can select a printing effect, and further, settings required for an image forming apparatus necessary for realizing the printing effect. Can be set automatically.

It is a block diagram which shows the image processing system regarding this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart relating to image processing for normal printing using transparent toner. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating how toner is loaded during normal printing. 5 is a flowchart relating to pre-print image processing using transparent toner. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating how toner is loaded during pre-printing. It is a figure which shows an example of transparent form image data. It is a figure which shows an example displayed on UI screen. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a data processor. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a PDL process part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a transparent form image process part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an image process part. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a figure which shows the cross section after the image formation at the time of pre-printing. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of local PC. It is a figure which shows an example displayed on UI screen. It is a figure which shows an example of transparent form image data. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a data processor. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a transparent form overlap determination part. It is a figure which shows an example displayed on UI screen. It is a figure which shows an example displayed on UI screen. It is a figure which shows an example displayed on UI screen. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a data processor. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a figure which shows the cross section after the image formation at the time of normal printing.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  A multi-function multifunction peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP) 101 and 103 and a local PC 102 are connected as recording devices to a LAN 104 constructed in the office 10. MFPs 101 and 103 perform image processing on an input image read from a document image. Then, the MFP that has read the document image prints the result of the image processing.

  It is also possible for the MFP 103 to print after image processing is performed on the document image read by the MFP 101. Furthermore, the MFP 101 and 103 can also print by interpreting the Page Description Language (hereinafter referred to as PDL) language transmitted from the local PC 102. Further, the MFP 105 is connected to another LAN.

[MFP]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the MFP. In FIG. 2, an image scanner (image reading unit) 201 reads a document image and performs digital signal processing. Further, the printer unit 202 prints an image corresponding to the original image read by the image scanner 201 on a sheet in full color.

  The image scanner 201 includes a mirror surface pressure plate 200, and a document 204 on a document table glass (hereinafter referred to as a platen) 203 is irradiated with a lamp 205 and guided to mirrors 206, 207, and 208. The irradiated light forms an image on a three-line solid-state image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 210 by a lens 209, and red (R), green (G), and blue (B ) Are sent to the data processing device 211. The lamp 205 and the mirror 206 are mechanically moved in a direction perpendicular to the electric scanning (main scanning) direction of the line sensor at a speed v and the mirrors 207 and 208 are moved at a speed of 1/2 v. Is scanned (sub-scanning). Here, the document 204 is read at a resolution of 600 dpi (dots / inch) for both main scanning and sub-scanning. The read image signal is stored in data storage means (not shown) inside the data processing device 211 in units of one page of the document.

  In the data processing device 211, the image signal stored therein is electrically processed in units of pixels, and decomposed into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) components, The data is sent to the printer unit 202. Further, inside the data processing device 211, transparent image data (CL) is generated in units of pixels and sent to the printer unit 202 as well.

  The sent M, C, Y, Bk, and CL image signals are sent to the laser driver 212. The laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 according to the transmitted image signal. The laser beam scans on the photosensitive drum 217 via the polygon mirror 214, the f-θ lens 215, and the mirror 216. Here, as with reading, both main scanning and sub-scanning are written at a resolution of 600 dpi (dots / inch).

  The rotary developing device 218 includes a magenta developing unit 219, a cyan developing unit 220, a yellow developing unit 221, a black developing unit 222, and a clear (transparent) developing unit 223. Then, the five developing units 219 to 223 alternately come into contact with the photosensitive drum 217, and the electrostatic development formed on the photosensitive drum is developed with toner of each color.

  The transfer drum 224 winds the paper supplied from the paper cassette 225 or the paper cassette 226 around the transfer drum 224, and transfers the image developed on the photosensitive drum onto the paper.

  In this manner, after the five colors CMYBk and clear (transparent) are sequentially transferred, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 227 and is discharged after the toner is fixed on the sheet.

  In addition, the paper can be discharged after being printed again through the above process without being discharged.

[Local PC]
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the local PC 102.

  Data will be described as an example created by the application 1801 (hereinafter referred to as application data). When the image data is stored in the storage device inside the MFP or printed out by the user, the printer driver UI (user interface) unit 1802 that receives the instruction transmits a message to that effect to the printer driver 1803. A printer driver 1803 converts application data into PDL data. The PDL language used for the PDL data indicates, for example, LIPS or PS. The transmission unit 1804 transmits the created PDL data to the MFP 101.

[Data processing device 211]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the data processing device 211 mounted on the MFP, and includes a PDL processing unit 901, a UI unit 902, a print output condition determination unit 903, an image processing unit 904, a storage device 905, and a print control unit. 906 includes a transparent form image processing unit 907.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the PDL processing unit 901 in FIG. 9. The receiving unit 1001, the PDL analysis unit 1002, the intermediate language development unit 1003, the print effect information creation unit 1004, the compression processing unit 1005, and the transmission unit 1006. It is configured.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the transparent form image processing unit 907 in FIG. 9, which includes a decompression unit 1101, a gray scale processing unit 1102, a binarization processing unit 1103, and a transmission unit 1104.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing unit 904 in FIG. 9. The decompression unit 1201, the transparent form reception unit 1202, the color processing unit 1203, the transparent toner processing unit 1204, the image formation processing unit 1205, and the transmission unit 1206 are illustrated. It is configured.

[Normal print output processing]
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart regarding image processing and normal printing processing performed by the data processing apparatus 211.

  The R, G, and B signals from the local PC 102 and MFPs 101 and 103 are converted into CMYBk signals by the image processing unit 904 by the color processing unit 1203 in the color processing in step S301. Conversion to the CMYBk signal is performed by matrix calculation as shown in Expression (1).

  In addition, the local PC 102 may transmit a CMYBk signal. In this case, the color processing unit 1203 performs density adjustment in step S301.

  In step S302, the color processing unit 1203 calculates the transparent toner component from the CMYBk signal by the transparent toner processing unit 1204. First, the total toner amount of CMYBk is obtained for each pixel. Here, the total toner amount is the amount of toner transferred to the paper for each pixel by the total signal amount of the four colors CMYBk. Usually, the total toner amount is expressed as a percentage value where the maximum value of a single color is 100%. When the image signal is expressed by an 8-bit integer, the maximum value of a single color is 255, so the total amount of toner is obtained by multiplying the added value of CMYBk by 100/255.

For example, an 8-bit image signal is
C = 80, M = 95, Y = 140, Bk = 110
Total toner amount = (C + M + Y + Bk) × 100/255 = 167% (2)
It becomes.

  Usually, the general upper limit of the total toner amount is about 200 to 280% and is determined by an image forming process or the like. In this embodiment, the total amount after further forming a transparent toner layer is the upper limit. It is required to be below the value.

Here, when it is assumed that the upper limit value of the total toner amount is 240%, it can be considered that the difference between the numerical value of the formula (2) and the upper limit value is the density ratio allowed for the transparent toner layer.
Allowable amount = 240-167 = 73% (3)
It becomes.

  When the CMYBk and CL (transparent toner) amounts are determined, in step S303, the image processing unit 904 performs gamma correction processing set by the MFP 101 on each color by the image forming processing unit 1205.

  In step S304, the image formation processing unit 1205 performs image formation processing for each color. Image forming processing includes screen processing and error diffusion processing.

  Finally, in step S305, the MFP 101 prints an image using CMYBk and CL toners. A schematic diagram thereof is shown in FIG.

  In other words, the normal print output process is a normal print output (first print output) function that calculates the transparent toner amount from the total toner amounts of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black and completes printing in one process. It is the printing method used.

  The printing method described above is hereinafter referred to as “normal print output”.

[Pre-print output processing]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart regarding image processing and pre-print output processing performed by the data processing apparatus 211.

  In step S501, the image processing unit 904 determines whether the input image signal from the local PC 102 or MFP 101, 103 is an R, G, B signal or a CMYBk signal by the color processing unit 1203. If the determination result is a CMYBk signal, in step S502, the image processing unit 904 uses the color processing unit 1203 to convert the signal into R, G, and B signals. The conversion method is performed by a matrix operation as shown in Expression (4).

  In step S503, the color processing unit 1203 replaces the R, G, and B signals with one signal of a single color. The conversion method is converted by an arithmetic expression or the like, and the arithmetic expression is not uniform. In addition, the CMYBk signal is converted into R, G, and B signals and replaced with a single signal, but it is also possible to directly replace the CMYBk signal with a single signal using a known method. In step S <b> 504, the image processing unit 904 performs gamma correction processing for transparent toner set by the MFP 101 by the image formation processing unit 1205, on the single signal. In step S505, the image formation processing unit 1205 performs image formation processing. In step S506, the MFP 101 prints an image using CL toner. A schematic diagram thereof is shown in FIG. The MFP 101 first prints cyan 601, magenta 602, yellow 603, and black 604 in order and prints them out. Next, the printed output by CMYBk is set in the paper feed stage of the MFP 101. A transparent 605 is printed on the set printed output and printed.

  In other words, the pre-print output process uses a pre-print output (second print output) function that completes printing in two processes by printing transparent toner after fixing four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black once. The printing method that was used.

  The printing method described above is hereinafter referred to as “pre-print output”.

[Print effect by transparent toner]
FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating the surface of the transparent toner during normal printing.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the surface of the transparent toner during pre-printing.

  The printing effect (glossy or matte) is related to the difference in surface property between paper and transparent toner, and the difference in surface property between transparent toner and already printed toner. First, there is a difference between the surfaces of the coated paper 3001 and the non-coated paper 3002, which is paper. Since the surface 3003 of the coated paper 3001 is coated, there is no unevenness. On the other hand, the surface 3004 of the non-coated paper 3002 has irregularities due to the influence of paper fibers. When printing is performed on the paper by normal printing using transparent toner, the surface 3005 and 3006 where the transparent toner is placed remains slightly uneven even after passing through the fixing unit 227 of the MFP 101. When normal printing with a transparent toner is performed on the coated paper 3001, the surface 3003 of the coated paper 3001 has no irregularities, and the surface 3005 of the transparent toner has irregularities. 3005) has a matte effect. On the other hand, when normal printing with transparent toner is performed on the non-coated paper 3002, the surface of both the paper and the transparent toner is uneven. However, generally, since the unevenness of the surface of the non-coated paper 3002 is larger than the surface 3006 of the toner, a gloss effect appears at the printed portion (that is, the surface 3006 of the transparent toner).

  Next, when printing is performed by pre-printing, the printed material 1601 in four colors of CMYBk has some unevenness on the toner surface 1602 as in normal printing. When transparent toner is printed on a part of the surface of the printed matter 1601, the surface 1603 on which the transparent toner is printed has some unevenness. On the other hand, the surface 1604 on which CMYBk4 colors are printed passes through the fixing unit 227 for the second time, so that the unevenness of the surface 1602 becomes smooth like the surface 1604. Therefore, in the case of pre-printing, if a transparent toner is printed at a location where CMYBk toner has already been printed (that is, the toner surface 1603), a matte effect appears.

[Transparent form image data]
FIG. 7 shows an example of transparent form image data. FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen displayed on the local PC screen.

  The transparent form image data 701 is stored as binary image data, and a portion 702 having a logical value “1” indicates a position where a visual effect generated when the transparent toner is used is applied. Buttons 801 and 802 indicate to the printing effect information creation unit 1004 of the PDL processing unit 901 what kind of effect the user desires in the portion 702 of the logical value “1” in the form image 701 displayed in the preview 803. To do.

[Register transparent form image]
For compression and decompression described in the present specification, a known technique such as JPEG is used.

  The image processing unit 904 uses the transparent form image data by the transparent toner processing unit 1204 when printing the transparent toner. The storage device 905 registers, as transparent form image data, an image indicating a location where an effect is to be obtained with transparent toner.

  When the local PC 102 instructs transparent form image registration from a driver UI screen (not shown), the PDL processing unit 901 receives the PDL data transmitted from the local PC 102 by the receiving unit 1001.

  The operation flow of the PDL processing unit 901 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1301, the PDL analysis unit 1002 analyzes the PDL data and generates intermediate data. In step S1302, when registering a transparent form image, step S1303 is skipped, and in step S1304, the intermediate language development unit 1003 renders the intermediate data and generates image data. In step S1305, the compression processing unit 1005 compresses the image data and generates compressed data. In step S1306, the transmission unit 1006 transmits the compressed data to the decompression unit 1101 of the transparent form image processing unit 907.

  Next, the operation flow of the transparent form image processing unit 907 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1401, the decompression unit 1101 decompresses the received compressed data. In step S1402, the gray scale processing unit 1102 converts the decompressed image data into gray scale data. As an example of the conversion method, in the case of input in RGB, a case where it is converted into a YUV signal and only the Y signal is used as a gray scale signal is mentioned, but this is not restrictive. In step S1403, the binarization processing unit 1103 converts the image signal converted to grayscale into binary image data. As an example of the conversion method, a threshold value is set, and when the grayscale signal value is larger than the threshold value, it becomes 1, and when it is smaller, it becomes 0, and binary image data is generated. In step S <b> 1404, the transmission unit 1103 transmits binary image data to the storage device 905.

  The storage device 905 receives the binary image data and stores it as transparent form image data.

[Print using clear toner]
The storage device 905 uses the stored transparent form image data and realizes printing using transparent toner.

  When the printer driver 1803 on the local PC 102 instructs printing using the transparent form image data, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays FIG. 8 on the screen. First, the printer driver UI unit 1802 selects, from a selection area 804, transparent form image data to be used for printing from a large number of stored transparent form image data. Then, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays a preview 803 on the screen and can check the binarized transparent form image data. The printer driver UI unit 1802 determines the printing effect for the portion displayed in the preview 803 (the location of the logical value “1” in the binary image data). The printer driver UI unit 1802 gives an instruction from the button 801 when it is desired to produce a matte effect, and an instruction from the button 802 when it is desired to produce a glossy effect. Send to. Finally, the transmission unit 1804 transmits the PDL data generated by the printer driver 1803. The instruction of the button 806 instructs cancellation.

  In response to an instruction from the button 805, the receiving unit 1001 in the PDL processing unit 901 receives PDL data from the local PC. The processing flow in the PDL processing unit 901 is almost the same as that at the time of transparent form image registration. In step S1303, the PDL analysis unit 1002 analyzes whether the PDL data requires a matte effect or a gloss effect, and creates print effect information. In step S1306, the transmission unit 1006 transmits the print effect information to the print output condition determination unit 903. In step S1304, the transmission unit 1006 transmits the compressed image data to the image processing unit 904.

  The operation flow of the print output condition determination unit 903 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1501, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines whether the print effect information is a matte effect or a gloss effect. If the matte effect is selected, in step S1505, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines that the printing method is normal printing and the paper type is coated paper, and generates determination information. In step S1506, the print control unit 906 receives the determination information. Next, when the gloss effect is selected, in step S1502, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines whether the priority item preset in the MFP 101 is print image quality priority or print speed priority. If the print speed is prioritized, in step S1503, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines that the printing method is normal printing and the paper type is non-coated paper, and generates determination information. In step S1506, the print control unit 906 receives the determination information. Finally, if priority is given to print image quality, in step S1504, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines that the printing method is pre-printing, the paper type is coated paper, and the transparent form image data is inverted, and the determination information is displayed. Generate. In step S1506, the image processing unit 904 and the print control unit 906 receive the determination information.

  The operation flow of the image processing unit 904 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1701, the image processing unit 904 decompresses the image data received by the decompressing unit 1201. In step S1702, the image processing unit 904 determines whether the printing method is normal printing or pre-printing from the determination information. In the case of normal printing, the transparent form receiving unit 1202 receives the transparent form image data from the storage device 905 in step S1703. Further, when it is necessary to invert the binary image data of the transparent form image data from the decision information, an inversion operation is also performed. In step S1704, the color processing unit 1203 performs CMYBk conversion on the image data in the case of RGB image data, and performs density adjustment by arithmetic processing or the like. In the case of CMYBk image data, the density is adjusted by arithmetic processing or the like. In step S <b> 1705, the transparent toner processing unit 1204 performs normal print processing on the transparent form image data, that is, binary image data, where the logical value is “1”, and determines the transparent toner amount. On the other hand, nothing is performed at the location of the logical value “0” in the binary image data, and image data including a transparent toner plate is generated. In step S <b> 1706, the image formation processing unit 1205 performs gamma correction processing set in the MFP 101 for each plate (CMYBK and transparent), and performs image formation processing. The image forming processing method is based on a screen or error diffusion. In step S1707, the transmission unit 1206 transmits the image data after the image forming process to the print control unit 906.

  In the case of pre-printing in step S1702, in step S1708, the color processing unit 1203 performs color processing on the image data. In step S1709, the image formation processing unit 1205 performs gamma correction processing set in the MFP for each plate (CMYBk), and performs image formation processing. In step S <b> 1710, the transmission unit 1206 transmits the image data after the image formation processing to the print control unit 906. Based on the determination information, the print control unit 906 first prints the image data formed with CMYBk. When printing is finished, the MFP 101 does not discharge the paper to the paper discharge mechanism of the MFP 101, and in step S1711, the MFP 101 automatically sets it again to the paper feed stage. As a method for automatically setting the paper in the paper feed stage, the paper is set in the paper feed stage again without being reversed in the reversal pass used for duplex printing. In step S1712, the transparent form receiving unit 1202 receives the transparent form image data from the storage device 905. Further, when it is necessary to invert the binary image data of the transparent form image data from the decision information, an inversion operation is also performed. In step S1713, the image forming processing unit 1205 performs the gamma correction processing for transparent toner set in the MFP on the transparent form image data, and performs the image forming processing for transparent toner. In step S <b> 1714, the transmission unit 1206 transmits the image data after the image forming process using the transparent toner to the print control unit 906.

  The print control unit 906 selects a paper type according to the determination information, and prints it out.

  According to the first embodiment, since information on whether to prioritize print image quality or print speed is set in the MFP in advance, it is possible to automatically perform processing based on that information.

(Embodiment 2)
The first embodiment is characterized in that the processing is automatically performed on the assumption that the print image quality priority or the print speed priority is set in the MFP in advance. In the second embodiment, whether the print image quality priority or the print speed priority is used. It is characterized by having a user select.

  FIG. 19 shows an example of a screen displayed on the local PC screen.

  In step S <b> 1502, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays FIG. 19 on the screen of the local PC 102. At that time, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays selectable priorities and print settings at that time on buttons. A button 1901 issues a print speed priority instruction. In step S1503, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines that the printing method is normal printing and the paper type is non-coated paper, and generates determination information. In step S1506, the print control unit 906 receives the determination information. Next, a button 1902 issues a print quality priority instruction. In step S1504, the print output condition determining unit 903 determines that the printing method is pre-printing, the paper type is coated paper, and the transparent form image data is inverted, and generates determination information. In step S1506, the image processing unit 904 and the print control unit 906 receive the determination information.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, the user can select a priority item, and further know the details of the setting item.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first and second embodiments, it is assumed that the transparent toner is printed in the same shape as the image data. On the other hand, in Embodiment 3, in order to print transparent toner in a shape different from the image data, the image data and the transparent form image data (binary image data) are compared, and the determination information is created by checking the degree of overlap. And

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a combination of image data and transparent form image data.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of the data processing device 211 mounted on the MFP, and includes a transparent form image processing unit 2101.

  The transparent form image data assumed when printing transparent toner on the image data 2001 is identical to the image data 2001 701, most of the image data 2001 overlaps 2002, and the image data 2001 completely overlaps with the image data 2001. 2003 that cannot be assumed.

  When the printer driver UI unit 1802 instructs printing using the transparent form image data, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays FIG. 8 on the screen of the local PC 102. The printer driver UI unit 1802 selects, from the selection area 804, transparent form image data to be used for printing from a large number of stored transparent form image data. Next, the button 802 or the button 803 is instructed. Finally, the printer driver 1803 creates PDL data according to the instruction of the button 805 and transmits the PDL data to the transmission unit 1804. The PDL processing unit 901 processes the generated PDL data, and then transmits the generated image data 2001 to the transparent form overlap determination unit 2101. Further, the storage device 905 transmits the selected transparent form image data to the transparent form overlap determination unit 2101.

  FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the transparent form overlap determination unit 2101. The operation flow of the transparent form overlap determination unit 2101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S2201, the transparent form overlap determination unit 2101 that has received both data uses the counting unit 2402 to count the number of pixels of the logical value “1” using the transparent form image data received by the transparent form reception unit 2403. In step S2202, the transparent form overlap determination unit 2101 causes the count unit 2402 to count the number of pixels having the color value of the image data decompressed by the decompression unit 2401. In step 2203, the count comparison unit 2404 compares the number of pixels counted in advance. If the comparison results match, the count comparison unit 2404 generates overlap information as “match” in step S2207. If the comparison results do not match, the count comparison unit 2404 shows how many pixels the image data has color values at the position of the logical value “1” in the transparent form image data. The count comparison unit 2404 performs comparison. In the case where there is almost no overlap with the image data 2001 as in the transparent form image data 2003, the count comparison unit 2404 generates the overlap information as “less” in step S2205. When there are many overlapping portions with the image data 2001 as in the transparent form image data 2002, the count comparison unit 2404 generates the overlap information as “large” in step S2206. In step S2208, the transmission unit 2405 transmits the generated overlap information to the print output condition determination unit 903.

  The operation flow of the print output condition determination unit 903 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1501, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines whether the print effect information is a matte effect or a gloss effect. The case of the gloss effect is the same as in the first embodiment. In the case of matting, in step S2301, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines the received overlap information. The case of “match” is the same as in the first embodiment. If the overlap information is “large”, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines in step S2302 whether the print image quality priority or the print speed priority, and if the print speed priority, the printing method is set to normal printing, paper The seed decides to use the coated paper and generates decision information. If priority is given to print image quality, it is determined that preprinting is used as the printing method and coated paper is used as the paper type. If the overlap information is “small” in step S2301, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines in step S2305 whether the print image quality priority or the print speed priority. When the print speed is prioritized, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines that the printing method is normal printing and the paper type is non-coated paper, and generates determination information. In the case of priority on print image quality, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines that the printing method is pre-printing, uses paper as the paper type, and inverts the transparent form image data, and generates determination information. In step S2308, the image processing unit 904 and the print control unit 906 receive this determination information.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, in addition to the first and second embodiments, it is possible to set the print output condition more accurately in view of the overlap between the image data and the transparent form image data.

(Embodiment 4)
In the first and third embodiments, the determination information is automatically created from the effect desired by the user and the degree of overlap between the image data and the transparent form image data. On the other hand, the fourth embodiment is characterized in that a control method when a finisher having a built-in mechanism for improving gloss (hereinafter referred to as glosser) is mounted on the MFP 101 is automatically determined.

  The glosser (not shown) is a device that re-fixes the toner once fixed by the MFP 101 by applying heat again to melt the surface. The printed matter that has passed through the glosser can achieve high gloss. That is, even if the user desires a matte effect and prints with the MFP 101 according to the determination conditions set in the first and third embodiments, if the glosser built-in finisher is attached, the matte effect cannot be realized. It will be possible.

  Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, when the glosser built-in finisher is attached to the MFP 101 and the matte effect is selected, the print output condition determination unit 903 prints out to a paper discharge port different from the glosser built-in finisher. Is added to the decision information. The image processing unit 904 and the print control unit 906 receive the determination information.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, in addition to the first and third embodiments, even if the finisher with a built-in glosser is attached to the MFP, it is possible to realize the effect desired by the user.

(Embodiment 5)
In the first and third embodiments, the determination information is automatically created from the effect desired by the user and the degree of overlap between the image data and the transparent form image data. On the other hand, the fifth embodiment is characterized in that the user can select an effect that can be printed only from the overlapping state of the image data and the transparent form image data.

  FIG. 25 shows an example of a screen displayed on the local PC screen.

  When the printer driver UI unit 1802 instructs printing using the transparent form image data, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays FIG. 8 on the screen of the local PC 102. First, the printer driver UI unit 1802 selects, from a selection area 804, transparent form image data to be used for printing from a large number of stored transparent form image data. Then, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays a preview 803 on the screen of the local PC 102 and can confirm the binarized transparent form image data. Finally, in accordance with the instruction of the button 805, the printer driver 1803 creates PDL data and transmits it to the transmission unit 1804.

  The print output condition determination unit 903 generates determination information simply by determining priority items preset in the MFP 101. FIG. 25 is displayed on the local PC screen of the generated determination information, and the user can select a printing effect on the screen. For example, the button 2501 instructs printing output with a matte effect, and the setting at that time also displays that the printing method is normal printing and the paper is coated paper. The button 2502 also gives an instruction to print out with the gloss effect, and displays that the printing method is normal printing, the paper is coated paper, and the transparent form image data is reversed. In response to an instruction from either button, the image processing unit 904 and the print control unit 906 receive the determination information.

  As described above, in the fifth embodiment, since the printable effect is displayed, it is possible for the user to easily realize the print effect simply by selecting without worrying about the print effect.

(Embodiment 6)
In the first and third embodiments, the determination information is automatically created from the effect desired by the user and the degree of overlap between the image data and the transparent form image data. However, in the sixth embodiment, when the paper type is restricted. The countermeasure is displayed to the user.

  The printing operation is started based on the decision information automatically created from the user's desire for printing effect and the degree of overlap between the image data and the transparent form image data. Coated paper may not be mounted. At that time, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays a screen informing the user that the coated paper is to be mounted on the screen of the local PC 102. Alternatively, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays on the screen of the local PC 102 a warning to the user that the mounted paper type is used as an alternative but the printing effect may not be desired (not shown). ).

  When the paper type that the user desires to print is mounted, the print output condition determination unit 903 determines whether or not the desired (predetermined) printing effect can be achieved with the paper type. If the desired print effect cannot be achieved, the printer driver UI unit 1802 displays a warning screen on the screen of the local PC 102 (not shown) that informs that the print effect may not be desired.

  As described above, in the sixth embodiment, it is possible to prompt the user to take a countermeasure when a paper type that achieves a desired effect is not mounted.

(Embodiment 7)
In the first and third embodiments, the determination information is automatically created from the effect desired by the user and the degree of overlap between the image data and the transparent form image data. On the other hand, the seventh embodiment is characterized in that determination information is automatically created when an attempt is made to achieve a printing effect by using transparent toner on a printed matter that has already been printed.

  26 and 27 are diagrams illustrating examples displayed on the screen of the UI unit 902 of the MFP 101. FIG.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a configuration of the data processing apparatus 211 mounted on the MFP, and includes a scan image processing unit 2801.

  First, the MFP 103 performs printing in four colors CMYBk. At that time, the MFP 103 gray-scales the generated image data, binarizes it, and saves it in a storage device built in the MFP 103. The paper feed stage of the MFP 101 sets the printed material discharged from the MFP 103. Then, the UI unit 902 of the MFP 101 displays the screen in FIG. 26 on the control panel (not shown) of the MFP 101. The UI unit 902 displays a list of MFPs connected to the same LAN 104 as the MFP 101 and selects the MFP 103 that has performed four-color printing using CMYBk from the selection area 2601. When the MFP 103 selects, the UI unit 902 selects, in the selection area 2602, an image corresponding to the printed material set in the paper feed stage from among the binarized images stored in the storage device built in the MFP 103. To do. In response to an instruction of a button 2604, the UI unit 902 determines selection of a form image and selection of a printing effect in the MFP 101. The instruction of the button 2605 means a kyunsel. The transparent form overlap determination unit 2101 receives the binarized image data from the MFP 103 when the selection of the transparent form image data and the printing effect in the MFP 101 by the UI unit 902 is completed and the printing operation starts. The transparent form overlap determination unit 2101 performs determination using the binarized image data and the selected transparent form image data.

  Next, when the MFP 105 not connected to the LAN 104 performs four-color printing, the UI unit 902 does not display the MFP 105 in the selection area 2601. In response to the instruction of the button 2403, the UI unit 902 displays FIG. 27 on the control panel of the MFP 101. The document reading apparatus of the MFP 101 sets a printed matter printed in four colors, reads the printed matter printed in four colors in accordance with an instruction of a button 2701, and acquires it as image data. The scanned image processing unit 2801 performs scanning image processing (color processing, background removal, etc.) on the acquired image data, and transmits the processed image data to the transparent form overlap determination unit 2101. The instruction of the button 2702 means cancellation of the reading operation.

  From the screen of FIG. 8 displayed on the control panel by the UI unit 902 of the MFP 101, the UI unit 902 selects transparent form image data from the selection area 804, selects a print effect from the buttons 801 and 802, and selects the button 805. The printing operation is started according to the instruction. First, the overlapping form determination unit 2101 determines how the image data and the transparent form image data overlap.

  After determining the degree of overlap, the print output condition determination unit 903 generates determination information regardless of whether the MFP 103 or the MFP 105 performs CMYBk four-color printing. As candidates at that time, since Embodiment 7 is a print output by the pre-print output method, only Step S1504, Step S2304, and Step S2307 can be selected.

  The operation flow of the image processing unit 904 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S2901, the transparent form receiving unit 1202 receives the selected transparent form image data from the storage device 905. Further, when it is necessary to invert the binary image data of the transparent form image data from the decision information, an inversion operation is also performed. In step S2902, the image formation processing unit 1205 performs image formation processing on the transparent form image data. In step S 2903, the transmission unit 1206 transmits to the print control unit 906.

  As described above, in the seventh embodiment, in addition to the first and third embodiments, it is possible to realize a printing effect on a printed matter that has already been printed.

  In all the embodiments other than the seventh embodiment, the output in the PDL has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The same applies to the output by scanning. In this case, after the processing by the scan image processing unit 2801, the operation is the same as that of PDL. The screen displayed on the screen of the local PC 102 is displayed on the control panel screen of the MFP 101.

<Other embodiments>
The processing method for storing the program for operating the configuration of the above-described embodiment so as to realize the function of the above-described embodiment on a recording medium, reading the program stored on the recording medium as a code, and executing the program on the computer is also described above. It is included in the category of the embodiment.

  The recording medium is a computer-readable recording medium. In addition to the recording medium storing the above-described program, the program itself is included in the above-described embodiment.

  As such a recording medium, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM can be used.

  In addition, the processing is not limited to the single program stored in the recording medium described above, but operates on the OS in cooperation with other software and the function of the expansion board to execute the operation of the above-described embodiment. This is also included in the category of the embodiment described above.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

211 Data processing device 901 PDL processing unit 902 UI unit 903 Print output condition determination unit 904 Image processing unit 905 Storage device 906 Print control unit 907 Transparent form image processing unit 1001 Receiving unit 1002 PDL analysis unit 1003 Intermediate language development unit 1004 Print effect information Creation unit 1005 Compression processing unit 1006 Transmission unit 1101 Decompression unit 1102 Gray scale processing unit 1103 Binary processing unit 1104 Transmission unit 1201 Decompression unit 1202 Transparent form reception unit 1203 Color processing unit 1204 Transparent toner processing unit 1205 Image formation processing unit 1206 Transmitter

Claims (4)

Image selection means for receiving selection of an image indicating an area to which transparent toner is added to a print object;
Display means for displaying the image selected by the selection means so as to show the effect of the different printing method to which the transparent toner is added when the image is added to the print object;
Printing method selection means for receiving from the image displayed by the display means one of different printing methods using the transparent toner that exhibits the indicated effect;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a forming unit configured to form an image using the transparent toner by the printing method selected by the printing method selecting unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the effects of the different printing methods to which the transparent toner is added are a glossy effect and a matte effect. An image selection step for receiving a selection of an image indicating an area to which the transparent toner is added to the print object;
A display step for displaying the image selected in the selection step so as to show the effect of the different printing method to which the transparent toner is added when the image is added to the print object;
A printing method selection step of receiving from the image displayed by the display step one of different printing methods using the transparent toner that exhibits the indicated effect;
An image forming method comprising: a forming unit configured to form an image using the transparent toner by the printing method selected in the printing method selection step.   The image forming method according to claim 3, wherein the effects of the different printing methods to which the transparent toner is added are a gloss effect and a matte effect.

Images