JPH0786684B2 - Layout scanner device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for outputting a printing plate-making film based on layout information, and more particularly to a layout apparatus for automatically outputting a printing plate-making film of a cutout image. .

[Conventional technology]

In general, a layout scanner device makes a page make-up of the image data input from the scanner into a final form of a printed matter according to the information on the layout mount, and performs an exposure output on a film.

To input layout mount information, place the layout mount on a coordinate input device such as a tablet digitizer that is generally attached to the layout scanner system, and input the coordinate information of the rectangle or circle drawn on the layout mount while instructing with a cursor etc. Alternatively, a coordinate input device for inputting a layout mount, which is generally called a mount plotter, is used in the same manner as described above.

Especially in the latter case, since it is a device different from the normal layout scanner device, information is transmitted and received via a floppy disk or the like.

In addition, the figure information on the layout mount is not sufficient to perform page make-up, and the photo manuscript information (manuscript number, trimming position information, etc.) and flat screen information (mesh% of each color) arranged in each figure are sufficient. Etc.) is required.

When these are referred to as layout information for convenience, it is general that the layout information is designated at the same time as the coordinate information.

Here, an outline of the data form of the layout mount information in the system, which is composed of the coordinate information and the layout information, will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the information drawn on the layout mount, and 51 is the layout mount, which is composed of graphic numbers F1 to F11 and graphic information C1 to C8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an allocation information table for explaining the allocation information of the graphic numbers F1 to F11 shown on the layout mount shown in FIG. 9, and is constructed in the internal memory of the layout scanner device (not shown).

In this figure, 52 is a figure number, and figure numbers F1 to F1
For 1. Reference numeral 53 is a figure shape, and figure shapes corresponding to the figure numbers F1 to F11, such as rectangles, circles and octagons, are stored as preset shape codes. Reference numeral 54 denotes the layout content, which stores the document type or the flat screen information. 55 is location information,
The position of each document on the layout mount 51 is shown.

Note that the figure shape 53 is added with the shape code and coordinate information such that the place where the figure exists on the layout mount 51 can be known.

Further, in the graphic shape 53 shown in FIG. 10, what is described as cutout along with a rectangle or a circle is expressed by a geometrical expression such as a rectangle or a circle as shown in FIG. The original is not placed in the fixed figure, but the image cut out along the outline of the subject shown in the original is placed at a predetermined position on the layout mount 51. It has a character different from that of a figure.

Further, in FIG. 10, a flat screen is a flat screen (cyan 100
%) Means to be able to clothe.

As can be seen from these figures, the specification format of the printed matter is drawn on the layout mount 51, and the layout mount information taken into the system by the layout mount information input means as described above is shown in FIG. It is held internally in the form shown in.

Next, the arrangement position information 55 shown in FIG. 10 will be described.

Arrangement position information 55 represents where each document is arranged on the layout mount 51. Normally, a characteristic point on the document (for example, the inner corner of a person) is on the layout mount 51. It stores which position it corresponds to, that is, the developed position coordinates at the characteristic points of the image data and the layout data collected.

In the conventional layout scanner device, page make-up is executed in the format shown in FIG. 9 based on the various information as described above, and the film is exposed through the output scanner. Figure number 52 is 6-10
Regarding the clipping of (figure numbers F6 to F10), page make-up cannot be performed only with the information shown in FIG.

That is, the contour line information of the originals 4 to 8 must be obtained, and the clipping operation is required before the page make-up.

Next, the cutting work will be described.

In general, the clipping operation is to display the originals one by one from a disc on a color display, and use a digitizer or a mouse to move the cursor on the screen to indicate the contour line of the subject.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a system for explaining a conventional clipping operation, and the configuration and operation will be described below.

When the cursor pointing member 63 is operated on the digitizer 62 and the contour line of the image of the document number F6 displayed on the display 65 is designated, the CPU 61 draws the contour line according to the coordinate information inputted and cut out. Calculate the data.

However, in general, the contour line designation of the cutout image requires high precision due to the print precision, so that the disc 64a,
The above accuracy cannot be achieved by merely displaying the entire image captured in 64b on the display 65.

For this reason, in the clipping work step, as shown in FIG. 12, the main portion of the image displayed on the display 65 is enlarged or the main portion of the image displayed on the display 65 is enlarged by the captured image size. Need to be displayed (when cutting out complicated shapes).

For this reason, the operator has to specify the cutout contour line while dividing the input image into a plurality of display sizes of the cutout image or the enlarged size on the display 65, and significantly lowers the cutout image instruction operation efficiency.

In particular, printed materials for advertising products, which are generally called leaflets, often cut out products, and the number of products is usually enormous.

In addition, in general leaflets, in many cases, the appearance of the layout mount, the selection of products to be placed on the leaflets, and the sales price are not decided until the deadline for distribution, and the time required for plate making and printing is less than that for general printed materials such as magazines The actual situation is that the process from printing to plate making, printing and delivery takes only a few days.

Depending on the state of the cutout image, it is necessary to select the cutout image before the cutout processing by the layout scanner device.

That is, some layout scanners automatically cut out using the density difference between the object to be cut out and the background, and in that case, there are few documents that have a clear density difference between the object and the entire contour line. Partly, it is necessary to divide into a part that can be automatically cut out and a part that is instructed to be manually cut out. In some cases, it may be more efficient to rely on a cutout mask rather than a cutout process by a layout scanner device.

Therefore, conventionally, a fixed figure such as a rectangle or a polygon including a subject portion to be cut out in the allocation information table shown in FIG. 10 is described as a cutout of the graphic shape 53 (see FIG. 9). , And a method of performing page make-up and film output with the shape of the fixed figure has been proposed.

FIG. 13 and FIGS. 14 (a) to 14 (c) are schematic diagrams for explaining the conventional fixed figure cutout processing.

Hereinafter, a process of performing page make-up and film output in the shape of a fixed figure will be described.

For example, in the layout mount input device, a rectangle as shown in FIG. 13 is input in advance, or the stored layout information table information is changed so as to have the data form shown in FIG.

When the page make-up is executed on the basis of the fixed figure thus created, the film output 71 shown in FIG. 14 (a) is obtained.

Therefore, the mask 72 (14th
By creating and synthesizing (see FIG. 14B), the desired film plate 73 shown in FIG. 14C can be obtained.

However, a subject for which a film plate of a cutout image can be created by the above-described method cannot be used when the images overlap with each other or when the images are close to each other, and it is necessary to perform a separation work described later. .

In other words, it is a work of collecting cut-out figures that do not overlap each other on one film and performing mask composition.

For example, taking the layout mount 51 shown in FIG. 9 as an example, as shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the color separation films 75, 76
Create a mask plate 77, for this separation film 75, 76
A final printed matter can be obtained by creating 78 (see FIGS. 15A and 15B) and performing mask composition.

By such a color separation process, it is possible to accurately create the printed matter in the state where the images on the leaflets and the like described above overlap or approach each other.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional layout scanner device, in order to execute the plate separation processing, the operator must cut out the layout mount 51 and judge the overlapping state of the images, and input the layout mount information in parallel when inputting the layout mount information. .

Therefore, the following problems (1) and (2) occur.

(1) Since the operator looks at the layout mount 51 to determine the separation film configuration, if the overlap of images is complicated and a large amount of them are required, a considerable degree of skill is required to make an accurate determination. There is a problem that the plate making efficiency is significantly reduced, because the plate making process must be executed again, for example, the printed image disappears due to a mistake in the plate making instruction.

(2) When the operator who defines the inclusion figure for the cutout image and the operator who performs the separation instruction are different, that is, for the cutout images (pictures) 81 to 83 as shown in FIG. 16A, the inclusion figure is included. The operator who defines
If the plate separation instructor sets the cutout image 81 and the cutout image 83 to the same separation for the cutout images 81 to 83 as shown in FIG. The film output 85 as shown in c) results in a problem that the mask process as a post process cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and determines the weight state of a cut-out pattern image, which is a cut-out image, from among the pattern images registered in the image file, and creates cut-out image superimposition information. , The best cutout distributed to cutout pattern images in which overlapping cutout pattern images do not overlap each other by grouping overlapping pattern information into cutout pattern images that do not overlap each other based on the created cutout image superimposition information An object of the present invention is to provide a layout scanner device capable of automatically generating and outputting a mask plate.

[Means for solving problems]

A layout scanner device according to the present invention is a layout scanner device which reads out a pattern image stored in an image file based on layout information created in advance and outputs a printing film plate from an output scanner,
A cut-out image information creating unit that creates cut-out image superimposition information by determining a superimposition state of a cut-out picture image that is a cut-out picture image among the picture images registered in the image file, and creates the cut-out image information creation unit. Based on the cut-out overlapping state information, the cut-out pattern images that overlap are divided into groups of cut-out pattern images that do not overlap each other to create separation group data, and the separation group data creation means and this separation group data creation means create The cutout images registered in the image file are read out for each group based on the separated plate group data, and a separation output control means for outputting the cutout separation mask for each group from the output scanner is provided.

[Operation] In the present invention, based on the cut-out superposition state information created by the cut-out image information creating means, the separation group data creating means sorts the overlapping cut-out pattern images into groups of non-overlapping cut-out pattern images and separates them. When the group data is created, the separation output control means reads out the cutout images registered in the image file for each group based on the created separation group data and causes the output scanner to output the cutout separation mask for each group. , It is possible to automatically generate and output the best cutout mask plate distributed to cutout pattern images in which the cutout pattern images to be superimposed do not overlap each other.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a layout scanner device showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a tablet digitizer for inputting coordinate information designated by a pointing device 2 to a layout scanner device 4.
By operating this pointing device 2, for example,
Layout information for the layout mount 51 shown in the figure is input and displayed on the display 3.

The layout scanner device 4 includes an input drum 4a, an output drum 4b, interface circuits (I / F) 4c, 4d, a controller 4e.
The original image input from the input drum 4a is registered in the image memory 6 via the interface circuit 4c based on the layout information registered in the layout information memory 5. The document image registered in the image memory 6 is processed based on the layout information and the interface circuit is processed.
The print film set on the output drum 4b is exposed and output via 4d.

The controller 4e also serves as the cut-out image information creating means, the color separation group data creating means, and the color separation output control means of the present invention, and creates the color separation group data while referring to the created superimposition state information and The cutout images registered in the image memory 6 are read out for each group on the basis of the separated plate group data, and the separated images are output to the output drum 4b serving as an output scanner.

An output color separation film 7 is output from the output drum 4b by a number corresponding to the number of color separation group data.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of layout information registered in the layout information memory 5 shown in FIG.
The same parts as those in FIG. 10 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 11 is a standard / cutout flag, which is added to each figure number F1 to F11. However, regarding the figure numbers F6 to F10, data different from the data shown in FIG. 10, that is, a rectangle (an inclusion figure including a cutout image) that is a fixed figure is stored in the cutout image. The inclusion figure is not limited to a rectangle, but may be a circle or a polygon.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining superimposition information added to the layout information stored in the layout information memory 5 shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 21 denotes superimposition information which is superimposition information. The layout mount 51 shown is displayed on the display 3 and corresponds to the state in which the drawing figure numbers F2, F4, F7, F10, and F11 are instructed and input.

For example, when the layout information as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display 3, superimposition information is instructed and input by the tablet digitizer 1 and the pointing device 2 based on the following rules. That is, when the figures overlap each other, the overlapping figures are input first.
Thus, in order to extract the figure number that overlaps the nth figure, it is judged whether the 1st figure to the (n-1) th figure and the nth figure share the occupied area. For example, the figure can be recognized by the controller 4e which is overlaid on the nth position.

In accordance with the recognition result, the overlay information 21 shown in FIG. 3 is registered with the figure number. It should be noted that the overlapping state of the figures may take any form as long as the shapes of the figures can be recognized.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining color separation group data according to the present invention, and the same components as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

31 is a color separation group, for example, a case where it is composed of color separation groups 1 and 2.

6 (a) and 6 (b) are the color separation group 31 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a color separation film output based on FIG.

In this figure, 41 is the first color separation output film, which corresponds to the color separation group 1 shown in FIG. 42 is the second color separation output film, which corresponds to the color separation group 2 shown in FIG.

Next, the separation group data creation process shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the separation group data creation processing procedure shown in FIG. In addition,
(1) to (9) show each step.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the controller 4e creates the superimposition information for the layout information, this flow starts, and the controller 4e first sets the set color separation group number to "1" (1). Next, the setting separation group number column for all figures is set to ON (2).

Next, among the figure numbers turned on in the set separation group number column, the figure with the smallest number is set as the set figure number (3). Next, all the figure numbers in the overlay information 21 are referred to, it is determined whether or not the set figure number is registered, and the setting separation group number column of the registered figure is turned off (4). Next, it has a number larger than the set figure number, and that column of the set separation group number is ON.
It is judged whether there is a figure that has become (5), YES
In this case, of the figures extracted by the immediately preceding determination, the number next to the set figure number is the set figure number (6), and the process returns to step (4).

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step (5) is ON, the set separation group number is incremented by "1" (7).

Next, refer to all areas with separation group numbers less than the set separation group number, and if some separation group column is ON, set OFF in the set separation group number column for each figure, and either If there is no ON in the separation group column of, ON is set in the set separation group number column for each figure (8).

Next, it is judged whether or not all the figures are ON in any of the color separation groups (9). If YES, the process is ended, and if ON, the process returns to step (3).

Next, the layout processing operation according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the layout processing procedure according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step.

First, for example, waiting for the layout information for the layout mount 51 as shown in FIG. 9 to be input by the tablet digitizer 1 and the pointing device 2 (1), and the input layout information is registered in the layout information memory 5. Is done (2).

Next, it waits for an original image to be input from the input drum 4a (3), and the input original image is registered in the image memory 6 (4).

Next, the controller 4e refers to the layout information registered in the layout information memory 5, and the overlap information 21
(See FIG. 3) is calculated (5), and the separation group data (separation group information) is calculated with reference to the created overlap information 21, which is the superposition state information (6).

Next, the original image image stored in the image memory 6 is read out (7) in a designated shape and separately for each color separation group while referring to the generated color separation group data, and is output to the output drum 4b.

In accordance with this, the output separation film 7 is output from the output drum 4b by the number of separation groups (see FIGS. 6A and 6B) (8).

Next, it is judged whether or not the reading for each color separation group is completed (9). If YES, the process is ended, and if ON, the process returns to step (7).

In the layout scanner device configured in this way,
Cutout image information creating means (controller shown in FIG. 1
Group of cut-out pattern images that do not overlap cut-out pattern images by the separation group data creating means (by the function of controller 4e shown in FIG. 1) based on the cut-out superposition state information created by When the color separation group data (see FIG. 5) is distributed to the above, the color separation output control means (by the function of the controller 4e shown in FIG. 1) outputs the image based on the generated color separation group data. Read out the cutout images registered in the file for each group, and output the cutout separation mask for each group from the output scanner (output drum 4b).
It is possible to automatically generate and output the best cutout mask plate that is distributed to cutout pattern images in which overlapping cutout pattern images do not overlap each other.

In the above embodiment, the case where the original image is output on the film separately for the color separation groups 1 and 2 has been described.
It may be included in either of.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the figure in which the flat screen is arranged and the figure in which the manuscript is arranged are not distinguished from each other and is subjected to the plate separation is explained. The impression may be shown to the customer to change the appearance. Of these, the colors of the flat screen are often changed.
Therefore, by separating the figure in which the flat screen is arranged and the figure in which the original is arranged, it is possible to flexibly cope with the correction to the flat screen.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, based on the cutout superposition state information created by the cutout image information creating means, the overlapping cutout pattern images are sorted by the color separation group data creating means into groups of cutout pattern images that do not overlap each other. When the color separation group data is created by means of the created color separation group data, the color separation output control means reads out the cut-out images registered in the image file for each group based on the created color separation group data, and the cut-out separation mask is grouped from the output scanner. Since they are output separately, it is possible to automatically generate and output the best cutout mask plate in which the cutout pattern images that are superimposed do not overlap each other.

Therefore, the mistake in the overlapping and separating work of the cut-out patterns which is conventionally entrusted to the operator is eliminated, and an effect that the cut-out mask plane for the layout image including the pattern images in which the pattern images overlap with each other can be produced without error and efficiently can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a layout scanner device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of layout information registered in the layout information memory shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining superimposition information added to the layout information stored in the layout information memory shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a superimposition state of cutout images, and FIG. Is a schematic diagram for explaining separation group data according to the present invention, FIG. 6 (a),
(B) is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a color separation film output based on the color separation group shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the color separation group data creation processing procedure shown in FIG. A flow chart, FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the layout processing procedure according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining information drawn on the layout mount, and FIG. 10 is for the layout mount shown in FIG. A schematic diagram of an allocation information table for explaining allocation information of the indicated figure number, 11th
The figure is a block diagram of the system explaining the conventional cutting work,
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of displaying a contour line instruction state, FIGS. 13 and 14 (a) to (c) are schematic diagrams for explaining a conventional fixed figure cutting process, and FIGS. 15 (a) to (a). d) is a schematic diagram for explaining the conventional mask creation processing for a cutout image,
16 (a) to 16 (c) are schematic diagrams for explaining a conventional plate separation process. In the figure, 1 is a tablet digitizer, 2 is a pointing device, 3 is a display, 4 is a layout scanner device, 4a is an input drum, 4b is an output drum, 4c and 4d are interface circuits, 4e is a controller, 5 is a layout information memory, 6 is an image memory, and 7 is an output color separation film.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A layout scanner device for reading out a design image image stored in an image file based on preliminarily created layout information and outputting a printing film plate from an output scanner, in which the design image registered in the image file is selected. A cut-out image information creating unit that creates cut-out image superimposition information by determining a superimposition state of a superposed image with respect to a cut-out picture image that is a cut-out image, and cut-outs that overlap based on the cut-out image superposition information created by the cut-out image information creating unit Separation group data creating means for creating the separation group data by allocating the picture images to groups of cut-out picture images that do not overlap each other, and the image file based on the separation group data created by the separation group data creating means. Group cropped images registered in The layout scanner apparatus characterized by comprising a separation output control means for outputting from the read said output scanner cutout separation mask by group, to.