JP4048033B2 - Image supply device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique suitably applied to, for example, a process of supplying an original image used for an original plate of a stencil printing apparatus that prints a stencil image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, when printing information on the communication side of postcards sent to many recipients at once, such as New Year's cards and direct mail, a printing device is used to reduce the labor and time required for the work. In many cases, for example, household stencil printing apparatuses represented by so-called “print gokko” are widely used. This stencil printing machine for home use, as described in the publicity of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-15814, produces a stencil master based on a manuscript image (= block image) and applies a desired ink on the stencil master. The original image is printed on the paper by placing it and pressing the stencil master on the postcard.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, as one form of printing work using the above stencil printing apparatus, there is a case where a desired original image is cut out from an illustration collection as shown in FIG. 14, for example, and a stencil original is created using this original image. However, the document image supply method using such an illustration collection has a plurality of technical problems to be solved immediately as described below.
[0004]
(1) Although illustration collections are provided to the market at an affordable price, there are dozens of illustrations published in them, so many users do not use most of the illustrations posted. Therefore, a lot of paper is wasted.
[0005]
(2) Since the ink is slightly applied to the original image cut out from the illustration collection in the process of placing the ink on the stencil plate after the plate making, it cannot be used again. Therefore, if the color editing operation or the like fails, the same illustration collection must be purchased again, resulting in a large economic burden.
[0006]
(3) The user usually adds a word or his / her address and name to the manuscript image selected from the illustration collection or pastes it on another sheet of paper, but the contents are missed or pasted well. There are cases where there is no such thing, and the labor required for writing or editing is very large. Also, if the contents are missed, the original image may be wasted. In this case, the same illustration collection must be purchased again as in the technical problem (2) above. The economic burden is large.
[0007]
(4) In the illustration collection, a sample of the printed matter that is expected to be completed when the original image is printed using a stencil printing machine is also posted, but since there is usually only one type of sample printed, When the color or layout is changed, it is not possible to check the printed matter that is expected to be completed, and if the user does not perform the printing work by himself, the printed matter obtained as a result of changing the ink color and layout may be checked. Can not.
[0008]
(5) Recently, a method of supplying an original image via a computer system has been proposed. Even when this method is used, in order to edit a printed matter that is expected to be completed when the ink color is changed. Is cumbersome and requires work. In addition, when the stencil image is color, since color data is supplied, it is converted into binary image (printed image) data that is divided by color and suitable for making a stencil printing plate. There is a need to convert and is very cumbersome.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve many of the technical problems of the above-described conventional image supply methods, and the object thereof is to greatly reduce the cost and labor required for the original production using the original image. To provide technology.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A feature of the image supply device according to the present invention is that an ink block for preventing a mixture of a plurality of ink colors when printing a stencil print, Made on the original plate An image supply device for supplying a document image to be used for a document of a stencil printing apparatus that prints an image by arranging between color-substitute images, and a stencil image database storing a plurality of stencil images, and an electronic network When a stencil image in the stencil image database is selected via a distance d between a plurality of color-specific block images included in the selected stencil image is larger than the width w of the ink block The present invention includes a control unit that synthesizes these color-specific block images and creates a document image corresponding to the stencil image, and an output unit that outputs the created document image via an electronic network. .
[0011]
The image supply method according to the present invention is characterized by an image supply method for supplying an original image used for an original plate of a stencil printing apparatus for printing a stencil image, using the stencil printing apparatus via an electronic network. There is a step of selecting a stencil image to be printed, a step of creating a document image corresponding to the selected stencil image, and a step of outputting the created document image via an electronic network.
[0012]
Here, the “stencil image” is a final expected image to be made a stencil, “original” is a heat-sensitive stencil paper, and “original image” is a block original to be punched in the original.
[0013]
According to the present invention having such a feature, the user can obtain the necessary amount of stencil material (manuscript image) at the required time, so the stencil creation work using the conventional illustration collection Compared to, labor and cost can be greatly reduced. In addition, since the document image data downloaded once through the electronic network can be output many times using the printer device, a large amount of expense is not required even if the printing operation fails. Furthermore, since a large number of illustration collections that are not used are not discarded, there is an advantage that it is possible for image providers to provide stencil images at low cost.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The image supply apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to, for example, a process of supplying a document image used for an original plate of a stencil printing apparatus that prints a stencil image. Therefore, in the following, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13, the configuration and operation of an image supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the image supply apparatus according to the present invention is applied to and implemented in the above processing. explain in detail.
[0015]
In this specification, “stencil image” refers to a final predicted image to be a stencil, “original” refers to a heat-sensitive stencil sheet, and “original image” refers to an original document to be punched in the original.
[0016]
<< Configuration of Image Supply System and Image Supply Apparatus >>
First, the configuration of an image supply system and an image supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image supply system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an image supply device 2, a plurality of computer systems 4a, 4b, 4c and printer devices 5a, 5b, 5c. The computer systems 4a, 4b, and 4c are configured to be connected via the electronic network 3 and capable of transmitting and receiving electronic signals and electronic data. The electronic network 3 here means a communication network in general using telecommunications technology. For example, the use of an Internet system based on TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol) is conceivable. .
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image supply device 2 includes a program storage unit 2a, a stencil image information database 2b, a customer information database 2c, an authentication / billing information database 2d, a control unit 2e, an input unit 2f, and an output unit 2g.
[0019]
The program storage unit 2a stores various programs such as a start program and an image supply program for the image supply device 2 and related data necessary for processing the program, such as a magnetic or optical recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or the like. It is comprised from the recording medium which the control part 2e can read. The recording medium may be a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) or a fixed medium such as a hard disk. The program or data stored in the recording medium may be configured to receive part or all of the program or data via a transmission medium such as an electronic network, and the recording medium is constructed on the electronic network. It may be a recording medium of another server. Further, the program may be installed by being transmitted via a transmission medium such as an electronic network line.
[0020]
The stencil image information database 2b stores information related to stencil images to be displayed to the user via the electronic network 3, classified according to genre such as New Year's greetings, summer greetings, and cold greetings. In this embodiment, the stencil image stored in the stencil image information database 2b is digital image data generated by reading a stencil image using an image scanner.
[0021]
The customer information database 2c stores information about users who use the block image supply service. Specifically, in addition to user attribute information such as name, address, age, membership number, password for receiving the image supply service, etc., for example, the file name of the downloaded stencil image, the version for each user such as the download date and time, etc. The lower image supply service history information is stored.
[0022]
The authentication / billing information database 2d stores information necessary for user authentication and billing necessary for executing the document image (= block image) supply service. Specifically, in addition to information necessary for authentication such as a password, information such as a user's credit card number and a bank account number from which charges are deducted is stored.
[0023]
The control unit 2e executes instructions and processes instructed in the program according to the program stored in the program storage unit 2a.
[0024]
The input unit 2f is used to input various types of information related to image supply processing from the computer system 4 into the apparatus 2 via the electronic network 3, and the input information is output to the control unit 2e. The output unit 2 g is used to output various types of information related to the image supply process from the apparatus 2 to the computer system 4 via the electronic network 3.
[0025]
<Operation of image supply device>
Next, the operation of the image supply device 2 of the above embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0026]
In the image supply device 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a user connects to the image supply device 2 via the electronic network 3 using the computer system 4a (S101), the control unit 2e is connected to the electronic network 3. Then, a menu screen related to the image supply process is displayed on the user's computer system 4a (S201). In this embodiment, the menu screen displayed by the processing of S201 is configured as shown in FIG. 5A, and the genre of the stencil image such as New Year greeting card, summer greeting card, and cold greeting card is selected as the menu. It is displayed.
[0027]
When the menu screen is displayed from the image supply device 2, the user refers to the menu screen and selects a desired genre via the input unit 2f (S102). When the genre is selected, the control unit 2e searches and extracts a stencil image corresponding to the selected use menu from the stencil image information database 2b, and stores a list of the extracted stencil images in the computer system 4a. It is displayed (S202). When the user selects, for example, a New Year's menu from the menu screen shown in FIG. 5A, the control unit 2e displays a list of New Year-related stencil images as shown in FIG. 5B. Display on the computer system 4a.
[0028]
Next, referring to the list of stencil images output from the image supply device 2, when the user selects and orders a stencil image to be used (S103), the control unit 2e refers to the authentication / billing information database 2d. After performing user authentication and billing processing, the selected stencil image is subjected to multi-color separation to generate a color-based block image (S203). Multi-color separation is a process of separating a stencil image into pixels of color-specific elements, and the number of color-specific block images generated by multi-color separation is the number of colors used in the stencil. . For the specific processing, see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 294213.
[0029]
When the color-specific block image is generated from the stencil image, the control unit 2e subsequently combines the color-specific block image to generate a block image (S204). In this embodiment, the process of S204 includes substeps shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the process of S204 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0030]
The stencil print has an advantage that a plurality of ink colors can be placed on one block. The process of S204 is a process of creating a block image by combining the color-specific block images using this advantage. Specifically, first, the control unit 2e resets the counters m and n to 0 (S301), and then sets the counter n to 1 (S302). Next, it is determined whether or not the value set in the counter n is larger than the number nc of colors used in the stencil (S303). If n ≧ nc, the process of S204 is completed. Conversely, if n <nc, the subsequent processes of S304 to S313 are executed.
[0031]
When n <nc, the control unit 2e determines whether or not the color-separated version image Pn exists (S306). As a result of the determination, if there is no color-separated version image Pn, the value of the counter n is incremented by 1 (S313), and the process of S303 is executed again. On the other hand, if there is a color-specific version image Pn, the value of the counter m is set to n + 1 (S305). When the value of the counter m is set to n + 1, the control unit 2e subsequently determines whether or not there is a color-based block image Pm (S306). As a result of the determination, if there is no color-separated version image Pm, the value of the counter m is incremented by 1 (S311), and then the process of S312 is executed. On the other hand, when the color-specific version image Pm exists, the control unit 2e calculates a distance d between the color-specific version image Pn and the color-specific version image Pm as shown in FIG. 6 (S307). ).
[0032]
When calculating the distance d between the color-coded version image Pn and the color-coded version image Pm, the control unit 2e prevents the ink of the color-coded version image Pn and the color-coded version image Pm from being mixed. It is determined whether or not the width is larger than the width w of the ink block (actually about 3 mm) (S308). If the distance d is smaller than the width w of the ink block as a result of the discrimination, the ink is mixed, so that the color-based block image Pn and the color-based block image Pm are combined in the same block image. If it cannot be performed, the process proceeds to S311. On the other hand, when the distance d is larger than the width w of the ink block, an ink block can be introduced between the color-separated plate-under image Pn and the color-separated plate-under-image Pm to prevent ink from being mixed. The lower image Pn and the color-specific lower image Pm are synthesized to generate a new color-specific lower image Pn (S309). Then, the combined color-specific version image Pm is deleted (S310).
[0033]
When the color-separated version image Pm is deleted, the control unit 2e increments the value of the counter m by 1 (S311), and determines whether the value of the counter m is larger than the number of colors nc (S312). If m ≧ nc, the value of the counter n is incremented by 1 (S313), and the processes after S306 are executed again. On the other hand, if m <nc, the processing after S307 is executed again.
[0034]
As described above, in the process of S204, the size d of the distance d between the color-under-printed images and the width w of the ink block arranged between the color-under-printed images in order to prevent ink color mixing. When the relationship d is compared and the distance d is larger than the width w, an ink block can be arranged to prevent ink from being mixed between the color-coded versions of the images. One block image is used. On the other hand, when the distance d is smaller than the width w, the ink block cannot be arranged, so that the composition of the color-based block image is not executed. As a result, it is possible to efficiently synthesize the color-by-color image so that the ink color is not mixed.
[0035]
When a block image is generated by the process of S204, the image supply device 2 displays the generated block image on the computer system 4a via, for example, the area B of the output screen shown in FIG. 7 (S205). ). When the block image is displayed on the computer system 4a, the user selects whether or not to perform color editing (color change) on the block image (S104). If color editing is not performed, the process proceeds to S107 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, when performing color editing, the user selects a block image displayed in the area B of the output screen shown in FIG. 7 using a mouse or the like (S105). When a composition image for color editing is selected, the image supply device 2 displays a color editing screen as shown in FIG. 8, for example. In the color editing screen shown in FIG. 8, an area image A and B in the screen display a color-edited artwork image and a color palette used for color editing work, respectively.
[0036]
When the color editing screen is displayed, the user selects a desired color from the color palette (S106). When a color is selected by the user, the image supply device 2 colors the composition image in the selected color and displays it in the area A of the color editing screen. Further, a stencil image is generated by synthesizing all the stencil images using the color-edited stencil image, and the generated stencil image is displayed (S207). By this processing, the user can know the stencil image obtained as a result of color editing, and if there is a problem, the user can correct it appropriately without requiring labor and expense. Although the color editing work is completed by the above processing, when the color editing work is further continued, the process proceeds to S104 and subsequent steps again. On the other hand, when the color editing operation is completely completed, the process proceeds to the processing after S107.
[0037]
In the process of S107, the user selects whether or not to add a sentence such as a word or a sender's address (S107). When adding a sentence, the image supply apparatus 2 displays a sentence input screen as shown in FIG. 9, for example (S208). When the text input screen is displayed, the user inputs a desired text in the right column of the text input screen (S108). When the user inputs a sentence, the image supply device 2 converts the sentence input by the rasterizing process into a bitmap format, and synthesizes the bitmap-format sentence into a stencil image. Then, the stencil image synthesized with the input text is displayed in the area A in the screen (S209). By this processing, the user can know the stencil image obtained as a result of synthesizing the text, and if there is a problem, the user can correct it appropriately without requiring labor and expense. Although the text synthesizing work is completed by the above processing, when the text synthesizing work is further continued, the process proceeds to the processing after S107 again. On the other hand, when the text synthesis work is completely completed, the process proceeds to the processing after S107.
[0038]
When no text is added, the image supply device 2 downloads and outputs the block image obtained by the processing so far to the computer system 4a via the electronic network 3 (S210). Note that authentication and billing processing may be performed during the download operation. When the download of the block image is completed, the user executes the same stencil printing process as before by printing the block image using the printer 5a, preparing the block, making plate, placing ink, and printing.
[0039]
<< Effects of Embodiment >>
As described above, according to the image supply apparatus of this embodiment, since the user can obtain only the necessary amount of stencil material at the time, the stencil printing using the conventional illustration collection Compared to the creation work, labor and cost can be greatly reduced. Moreover, since the image data downloaded once can be output many times using the printer device, even if the printing operation fails, a large amount of expense is not required. Furthermore, since a large amount of unused stencil images are not discarded, it is possible to provide stencil images at low cost.
[0040]
In addition, according to the image supply apparatus of this embodiment, a predicted image of a stencil with a color scheme, design, and technique selected by the user is output. Therefore, work for actual printing such as cutting and pasting work using scissors and glue It is possible to check the finish of the stencil without the need for. This makes it unnecessary to perform operations such as scraping ink and placing another ink if you don't like it, and you can greatly reduce the labor and cost required for stencil printing. it can.
[0041]
Further, according to the image supply apparatus of this embodiment, since the image supply side supplies the stencil image via the electronic network, there is no need for physical distribution costs as in the case where the stencil image is provided using the illustration collection. It becomes. Further, by examining the stencil image downloaded by the user, the tendency of the stencil image to be used can be grasped, and the tendency can be reflected to the stencil image posted in the illustration collection.
[0042]
<< Other Embodiments >>
As mentioned above, although the invention made by the present inventors has been described by the above embodiment, it should not be understood that the description and the drawings, which form a part of this disclosure, limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0043]
For example, in the above embodiment, the stencil image is generated by performing multi-color separation on the stencil image, but the stencil image is subjected to full-color separation to obtain C (cyan) M (magenta) Y (yellow) stencil. An image may be generated. This processing is performed by RGB / CMY conversion for converting a stencil image in the R (red) G (green) B (blue) form obtained from the image scanner into the CMY form with reference to the lookup table. Here, the above lookup table may be created by the following operation. First, as shown in FIG. 10, a CMY value is shaken to create a patch block image (S401). Then, a block image is printed by printing the image of the patch (S402), and a stencil print is generated by performing plate making, ink placement, and printing (S403). Next, the color of the stencil print is measured to collect the RGB values of each block image (S404), and a correspondence table between the CMY values and RGB values of each block image is created (S405). Since the CMY / RGB correspondence table is obtained by the above processing, a lookup table for RGB / CMY color conversion can be created by reversing the correspondence table. Note that in order to create a CMY / RGB correspondence table in the above processing, it is only necessary to create a large number of patches by making the values to be assigned in CMY finer. Further, when the RGB values in the CMY / RGB correspondence table are skipped, the skipped values may be estimated by linear interpolation.
[0044]
In the above-described embodiment, the user specifies the color scheme of the block image. For example, a plurality of stencil images colored by hue rotation are generated and output (FIG. 11), and the generated holes are generated. A desired image may be selected from the print images. In the case of this process, the hue rotation angle may be specified in advance or may be specified by the user.
[0045]
Further, the coloring process of the image of the artwork may be executed based on the color density distribution of the original artwork image. As a result, it is possible to perform the coloring process of the original image without destroying the stereoscopic effect and fluctuation (shading) of the original original image.
[0046]
Furthermore, a grayscale image and a color map may be created in advance from the stencil image, and the coloring process may be performed via an output screen as shown in FIG. 12, for example. Here, the grayscale image is an image generated by extracting only the brightness from the stencil image. The color map is an image generated by extracting the ink color of each pixel in the stencil and replacing the ink color with an identifier indicating the ink color. If the coloring process is performed based on the grayscale image and the color map, the color editing operation for each color region can be performed.
[0047]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image supply device creates a block image from a stencil image in accordance with an order from the user. For example, as shown in FIG. = Original image) An information database 2h may be provided, and a block image corresponding to each stencil image may be stored in the database 2h in advance. According to this configuration, although an extra storage capacity is required, it is not necessary to execute image processing, so that the CPU power can be suppressed as compared with the above-described embodiment.
[0048]
Thus, it should be understood that the present invention includes various embodiments and the like not described herein. Therefore, the present invention is limited only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from this disclosure.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to greatly reduce the cost and labor required for an original plate making operation using a document image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image supply device in the image supply system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an image supply method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a block image generation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a menu screen and a stencil image selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a block image generation process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a first color editing screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a second color editing screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a sender address name input screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a lookup table creation method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a color editing screen according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a color editing screen according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a block image.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image supply system
2 Image supply device
2a Program storage
2b Stencil image information database
2c Customer information database
2d Authentication / billing information database
2e Control unit
2f Input section
2g output section
2h Composition image (= document image) database
3 Electronic network
4a, 4b, 4c Computer system
5a, 5b, 5c Printer device

Claims (5)

An ink block for preventing a mixture of a plurality of ink colors when printing a stencil is used for a manuscript of a stencil printing apparatus that prints an image by arranging between color-prescribed images on the original plate. An image supply device for supplying a document image,
A stencil image database for storing a plurality of stencil images;
When a stencil image in the stencil image database is selected via an electronic network, the distance d between a plurality of color-specific block images included in the selected stencil image is the width of the ink block. when larger than w, a control unit that combines these color-specific block images and creates a document image corresponding to the stencil image; and
An image supply apparatus comprising: an output unit that outputs the created document image via an electronic network.   Arbitrary character information can be added to the selected stencil image via an electronic network. When character information is added to the stencil image, the control unit synthesizes the character information. The image supply device according to claim 1, wherein a document image corresponding to the stencil image is created.   The color of the selected stencil image can be edited via an electronic network, and when the color of the stencil image is edited, the control unit creates a document image corresponding to the stencil image with the edited color The image supply device according to claim 1, wherein the image supply device is an image supply device.   4. The image supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document image is created by performing multi-color separation on the selected stencil image.   4. The image supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document image is created by full-color separation of the selected stencil image.

Images