JPH01206052A - Multi-color image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently conduct the color designation of form overlay information which is to be overlay-printed on user character information, by a method wherein, in a multi-color image output device overlaying fixed image information on input image information, means for adding a color attribute to the fixed image information, for determining an output image color, and for changing the color attributes according to a predetermined instruction are provided respectively. CONSTITUTION:If receive data from a host computer is judged to be a form overlay register, predetermined information is registered to a form overlay page buffer 6. If the judgement is negative, whether a color designation is inputted on the host computer side is judged. In the former case, a color is designated. Thereafter, user character information is received from the host computer to be stored in a character page buffer 5. According to the color designation for the user character information, character code data is pattern-developed on a bit map memory 8 or 9 by a character generator part 7. Next, form overlay information is read from the page buffer 6 to be developed to the bit map memory 8 or 9. After all the information is developed, a multi- color printing is conducted in a printing part 10. In this manner, a synthesized output image can be formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a multicolor image output device, and for example, a multicolor image output device that superimposes special form overlay information on user character information and outputs the resultant image.

[Prior Art] Originally, in this type of device, the typeface (hereinafter referred to as a "logotype") or frame of a company name, product name, etc., is registered in advance, and the text, etc., is registered in advance. There are printing devices that have a printing function that prints images simultaneously to emphasize or draw attention to them. Note that print information registered in advance will be described below as form overlay information.

In particular, if the above-mentioned printing device is a multicolor printing device, the form overlay information should be specified in bit units in the same way as the image information (hereinafter referred to as "user character information") of the document, etc. that the user is trying to print. Can be done.

Therefore, composite printing of user character information and form overlay information using a conventional printing device is shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b).
) and (c).

First, assuming that the user character information is rAJ to rXJ, the print image 200 based on this user character information is shown in FIG.
)become that way. Further, in order to perform form overlay printing, a print image 201 consisting of the already registered logo type character string rJAPANJ, which serves as form overlay information, and a frame becomes as shown in FIG. 6(b).

The composite output image 202 obtained by superimposing the print image 201 on the print image 200 and printing is shown in FIG.
c).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional example described above, the composite output image 2
In the output image of the logotype rJAPANJ or the frame in 02, the color is specified in units of dots or units of characters in the same way as the characters rAJ to rXJ, so the image information of the print images 200 and 201 is received from the host computer. In some cases, there is a problem in that it takes a lot of communication time just to specify the color.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is to provide a multicolor image output device that efficiently specifies the color of form overlay information to be superimposed and printed on user character information. The point is to provide the following.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the purpose, a multicolor image output device according to the present invention forms an output image by superimposing fixed image information on input image information. A multicolor image output device, comprising: a color attribute adding means for adding a color attribute to fixed image information; and a determining means for determining an output image color of the fixed image information based on the color attribute; It is characterized by comprising a changing means for changing based on a predetermined change instruction.

Further, the change means includes an input means for inputting the change instruction from a host device.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, the output image color of the fixed image information can be determined by adding a color attribute to the fixed image information. Furthermore, color attributes can be changed freely based on predetermined change instructions.

Furthermore, the color attribute can be changed by inputting a change instruction from the host device.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of a multicolor printing apparatus according to this embodiment.

In the figure, 1 is a CPU that controls the entire device.

A ROM 2 stores a control program, an error processing program, a program for performing processing according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), and the like, which will be described later. Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM used as a work area during the execution of various program programs and a temporary save area for various flags and the like during error processing.

4 is an interface unit (hereinafter referred to as "F/F") that connects to a host computer (not shown) which is a host device, and this I/F unit 4 includes a line buffer for storing received data received from the host computer. is equipped. Reference numeral 5 denotes a character page buffer that stores character code data for one page inputted from the host computer. Reference numeral 6 denotes a form overlay page buffer that stores form overlay information such as a logo type or a frame to be printed superimposed on desired user character information in the form of character code data.

Further, 7 is a character generator unit that patterns each character code data stored in the character page buffer 5 and the form overlay page buffer 6 into bit data. Reference numeral 8.9 is a bitmap memory for developing the patterned data in the character generator section 7. In addition, bitmap memory 8
stores bit data for which the printing color is black, and bitmap memory 9 stores bit data for which the printing color is red.

A printing section 10 prints a predetermined image in two colors on recording paper based on the respective bit data of the bitmap memory 8.9.

Next, a method of storing character codes in the multicolor printing apparatus of this embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 2(a) is a diagram illustrating a storage method for storing user character information in the character page buffer 5 of this embodiment.
b) is a diagram illustrating a storage method for storing form overlay information in the form overlay page buffer 6 of this embodiment.

In FIG. 2(a), character code data including user character information are input in the order of input from the host computer.
Stored by NNo, n.

On the other hand, in FIG. 2(b), a buffer is provided in which up to 16 numbers from N001 to No. 16 can be registered as character code data in a freely designated number. In this form overlay page buffer 6, 100 is a color specification bit that adds black or red color information to the form overlay information, and when the color specification bit 100 is "0", black,
Moreover, when it is "1", the color is designated as red. In this manner, the bitmap memory in which the form overlay information is patterned and developed is determined depending on whether the color designation bit 100 is "0" or "1".

Next, a composite printing process using user character information and form overlay information according to this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the color specification command according to this embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a diagram illustrating the composite printing process procedure of user character information and form overlay information according to this embodiment, and FIG.
4A and 4B are flowcharts illustrating a printing operation according to a series of composite printing processing procedures shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 3, rESCXYZ, a, and bJ are color designation commands for form overlay information by the host computer. In this color designation command, the control code on the host computer side is rESCXYZJ, the 7 ohm OHA Ray designation is "a", and the color designation is rbJ. Here, rESCJ' indicates an escape sequence, and rXY
ZJ indicates color designation of form overlay information based on escape sequences. In addition, in the form overlay specification raJ, as shown in FIG. 2(b) above, when a=1, the form overlay information No.
There is a one-to-one correspondence with all up to a=16 so that the value is 1. Further, in the color specification rbJ, when b=o, black is specified, and when b=1, red is specified.

In addition, in the relationship between the print image and the composite output image, as shown in FIG.
102 is a print image obtained by combining two types of form overlay information rUsAJ and the frame, and 103 is a composite output image in which the print image 101 and the print image 102 are combined and output.

Next, the printing operation of the composite printing procedure based on the relationship between the above-described print image and the composite output image will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when data is received from the host computer (step S1), it is determined whether the received data is a control code for form overlay registration. If it is determined that form overlay registration is required, predetermined form overlay information is registered in the form overlay page buffer 6.

For example, rUSAJ of the form overlay information mentioned above.
No. 1, buffer No. 1, frame No.

When registering the data in the two buffers, the raw data received from the host computer, that is, character code data, is stored and registered.

Incidentally, when registering the form overlay information, the bit position information for developing the image on the bitmap memory 8 or 9 is also registered (steps S2 and S3).

If it is determined in step S2 that the form overlay is not registered, the host computer issues a color designation command rESCXYZ,a.

b" is input. In the case of a color specification command, form overlay specification "a" of the color specification command,
Specify the color of the form overlay information specified based on the color specification rbJ (step S4, step 515
).

For example, the content received by the color specification command is rESCXYZ,
1. IJtrESCXYZ, 2゜1'', page buffer 6 for form overlay 5
The logotype of NO61 registered in rUSAJ and No.
, 2 are both specified to be printed in red.

As described above, when the process of specifying the color of form overlay information from the host computer side is completed, next, one page of user character information is received line by line from the host computer, and the user character information is converted into character code data. The data is stored as is in the character page buffer 5 (step S6, step S7). Further, if it is determined in step S6 that the user character information is not input, this corresponds to a case where a control command such as a command to cancel printing is received from the host computer. In this case, normal processing is performed in accordance with various control commands such as stopping printing.

Next, in step S7, once all the user character information for one page is stored in the character page buffer 5, the process proceeds to patterning of the user character information.

First, when the user character information specifies black color, the character code data on the character page buffer 5 is developed into a pattern on the bitmap memory 8 by the character generator section 7. Similarly, if red is specified, a pattern is developed on the bitmap memory 9 (step S8). Note that the method of specifying the printing color of user character information is a known technique, so a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, after the pattern development process of user character information is completed, form overlay information is read from the form overlay page buffer 6 in the order of the lowest number specified by the host computer. In this case, N001 and No.

2 is applicable.

First, read out the logotype rUsAJ of No. 1 (
Step S9), check the contents of the color specification bit 100 (
Step 5IO). In the case of the logotype rUSAJ, the color designation bit 100 is °°1", so the designated color is determined to be red. Therefore, in order to develop the logotype rUsAJ into a pattern, the character code data of the logotype rUsAJ is patterned by the character generator section 7. , this patterned bit data is stored in the bit map memory 9 for red color.
(step 512).

Next, read out the frame No. 2 (step S9),
Similarly, the color specification bit 100 is checked, and since the color specification bit 100 of the frame is "1", the character code data of the frame is patterned by the character generator section 7, and this patterned bit data is used as a red color code. The data is developed in the bitmap memory 9 (step 512).

In this way, after all the form overlay information specified by the host computer is expanded into the predetermined bitmap memory, the printing unit 10 prints two forms of red and black.
Perform multicolor printing.

By performing multicolor printing as described above, a composite output image 103 is formed in which the logotype rUSAJ and the frame of the form overlay information in red are superimposed on the user character information "Dear Sir or Madam..." in black. can do.

In addition, in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) above, the form overlay information logotype r
If you want to print USAJ in black, you can specify it from the host computer by setting the color designation bit 100 to "0". In this case, the bit data of the bit map memory 8 and the bit data of the logotype rUsAJ may be logically ORed so that the data of the user character information developed on the bit map memory 8 is not changed. Of course, the same applies to the case where the user character data is developed as a pattern in the bitmap memory 9 for red, and step Sll or step S12 in FIG. 5(b)
Performs logical OR processing within.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since a color can be specified for each piece of form overlay information, the communication time required for specifying the color of form overlay information transmitted from the host computer to the multicolor printing apparatus of this embodiment can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to register form overlay information and specify colors while editing user character information on the host computer, and color specification can be changed at any time after form overlay information is registered, which is very convenient for users. It is. In this way, since colors can be specified for form overlay information even during editing, printing time can be shortened.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, user character information is stored in the character page buffer 5 and form overlay information is stored in the form overlay page buffer 6 in the form of character code data. The invention is not limited to this, and as long as the pattern can be developed in a predetermined bitmap memory, user character information and form overlay information may be stored and registered in the form of vectors.

Alternatively, although multi-color printing using two colors is possible in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of color designation bits and the number of bitmap memories are adjusted according to the number of printing colors. It would be better to increase the number to the same number. For example, if there are three printing colors, the number of color designation bits should be three, and three bitmap memories should be prepared. Of course, it is not necessary to require as many bitmap memories as there are printing colors, and multicolor printing such as yellow, magenta, cyan, etc. may be performed. In this case, the number of color designation bits may be made equal to the number of bitmap memories. The same applies when the printing color is a single color.

Furthermore, the multicolor printing device of this embodiment may be used in a word processor with a printing function equipped with a CRT display and a keyboard, without being connected to a host computer. In this case, registered form overlay information can also be used. It is possible to improve the processing speed when printing by specifying colors.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multicolor image output device that efficiently specifies the color of form overlay information to be superimposed and printed on user character information.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of a multicolor printing apparatus according to this embodiment, FIG. 2(a) is a diagram illustrating a storage method for storing user character information in the character page buffer 5 of this embodiment, Same figure (
b) is a diagram illustrating a storage method for storing form overlay information in the form overlay page buffer 6 of this embodiment, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a color designation command according to this embodiment, and FIG. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are flowcharts illustrating the printing operation according to a series of composite printing procedures according to FIG. 4, and FIG. Figures (a), (b), and (c) are diagrams illustrating composite printing of user character information and form overlay information by a conventional printing device. In the figure, 1...CPU, 2...ROM, 3...RA
M. 4...I/F section, 5...Character page buffer, 6
...Page buffer for form overlay, 7...
・Character generator section, 8.9...Bitmap memory, lO...Printing section, 100...Color specification bit, 101.102, 200.201...Print image, 103,202...Composition This is the output image. Figure 4 Figure 5 (b)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a multicolor image output device that forms an output image by superimposing fixed image information on input image information, a color attribute adding means for adding a color attribute to the fixed image information, and a color attribute adding means for adding a color attribute to the fixed image information, and a color attribute adding means for adding a color attribute to the fixed image information; 1. A multicolor image output device, comprising a determining means for determining an output image color of image information, and further comprising a changing means for changing the color attribute based on a predetermined change instruction. (2) The multicolor image output device according to claim 1, wherein said changing means includes input means for inputting said changing instruction from a host device.