JP2000218887A - Printing paper, medium with printing control program recorded, printing control apparatus and printing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing paper with which not only image data such as photographs or the like can be simply printed, but an ease of use is improved in consideration of a case when the paper is actually cut and a margin remaining after the cutting can be easily reused, a medium with a printing control program appropriate for use in printing to the printing paper, a printing control apparatus and a printing control method. SOLUTION: A paper of an A4 size is divided to four sections S1a of an A6 size by perforations C1 and C2. A peripheral edge of each section S1a is defined to a frame shape by perforations D1 and D2. In printing images to the thus-formed perforated special paper S1, images are printed within the frames defined by the perforations D1 and D2, and the frame parts are cut off. On the other hand, the section S1a not used for the printing is cut at the perforations C1 and C2, so that the section can be reused for next printing as an A6 size paper. The paper is easy to cut and a margin remaining after the cutting can be reused easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing paper, a medium recording a printing control program, a printing control device and a printing control method, and more particularly to a printing control method and a printing control method. The present invention relates to a print sheet, a medium storing a print control program suitable for printing on the print sheet, a print control device, and a print control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital still cameras have begun to be rapidly used. On the other hand, color printers have been improved in definition, and what is called photographic image quality has become available in ordinary households. When an image data shot by a digital still camera is to be printed by a color printer, the image data is captured and printed by photo retouching software. Then, one or several photos are printed on one printing paper. In some cases, register marks are printed on the cut-out portion so that the frame of the photograph is easy to understand.

[0003]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. It prints a photo smaller than the printing paper, but of course there is a margin around it. In this case, it is necessary to cut off the margin using scissors, a cutter, or the like while using the register marks printed on the printing paper as a mark.

Further, even if a margin is largely left, it cannot be printed by a printer after cutting. Because in many printers,
This is because printing is performed by reciprocating the print head in the main scanning direction while the printing paper is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and thus the printing paper with a part missing is not conveyed normally. Therefore, in this case, the margin must be discarded as it is, or the margin must be cut out to a paper size printable by the printer and reused, and the margin cannot be reused effectively. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and not only simply prints image data such as a photograph, but also improves the usability in consideration of a scene actually cut out. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print sheet which can easily reuse a margin, a medium recording a print control program suitable for printing on the print sheet, a print control device, and a print control method.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a printing paper suitable for use in a printing apparatus capable of printing in a plurality of types of paper sizes, The paper surface is sectioned into a region of a paper size that can be printed by the printing apparatus, and a first cutting line that can be easily cut and a periphery of the region divided by the first cutting line are divided into a substantially frame shape. And a second cutting line that can be easily cut.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the surface of the printing paper is divided into a plurality of regions by a first cutting line, and the periphery of each region is defined by a second cutting line. It is divided into a substantially frame shape, and these cutting lines can be easily cut. In order to print an image or the like captured by a digital still camera or a scanner on such printing paper, the image is printed in a frame defined by the second cutting line, and then the frame portion is drawn by the second cutting line. Is cut to obtain a card-shaped printed matter. In addition, an area that is not printed on one printing sheet is cut along the first cutting line. Then, a sheet of a size printable by the printing apparatus is obtained, and this sheet is reused for later printing.

That is, not only is it easy to create a card-shaped printed matter by arranging the second cutting line on the printing paper, but also by arranging the first cutting line, Margins not used for printing can be easily reusable. In addition, it is also possible to cut out only the frame portion integrally with the second cutting line, and in such a case, the cut-out frame portion is not scattered, and the trouble of cleaning up can be omitted. Here, although the printing paper is used, various materials can be applied to the printing paper, and the material is not particularly limited. Therefore, in addition to those strictly formed of paper, those formed of a resin film such as an OHP sheet may be used. Also, in the case of paper, although the paper quality such as so-called plain paper or fine exclusive paper is completely arbitrary, since the image is scheduled to be printed as described above, the paper quality corresponding to that is planned. It is preferable that

Although the first and second cutting lines can be easily cut, the cutting line here widely includes a shape that can be cut along the cutting line without using scissors or a cutter. Even if such a cutting line is formed, the sheet can be handled integrally as one sheet of printing paper. Needless to say, the specific shape of the cutting line is completely arbitrary, and various shapes can be applied.
For example, even if it is physically cut completely, the cut portion may be bonded with an adhesive such as glue, or a cut is formed halfway in the thickness direction of the printing paper May be used.
Speaking of the second cutting line alone, it can be handled as an integrated print sheet by being pasted on a predetermined backing paper while being physically completely cut like a sticker for a pre-clause. There may be.

Further, as another example, the invention according to claim 2 is the printing paper according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cutting lines are formed at perforations. That is, the cutting line is formed by alternately arranging the portion penetrating the front and back surfaces of the printing paper and the portion connected thereto. Needless to say, the density of fine or coarse perforations is completely arbitrary, and for example, a form in which most of the parts penetrate the front and back surfaces and some of the parts are connected to each other may be used. Further, even on the same line, the density may be changed depending on the location.

[0011] The size of commercially available printing paper is "B4",
It is formed based on a predetermined standard such as “A4”, and the printing apparatus can print on printing paper of various sizes in accordance with the standard. For this reason, the printing paper according to the present invention may have a paper size that conforms to the standard. As a preferable configuration in that case, the invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2. In the printing paper described above, the first cutting line is configured to equally divide the paper surface. Of course, although it is divided equally, various configurations are applicable. For example, if an “A4” size sheet is divided into two equal parts in the horizontal direction, two “A5” size areas are formed.
If the area is divided into four in the vertical and horizontal directions, four areas of the “A6” size are formed. As described above, there are various configurations for equally dividing the printing paper, but any configuration may be used as long as printing can be performed by a predetermined printing device on a paper having a divided area size.

The second cutting line divides the periphery into a substantially frame shape in each area defined by the first cutting line. In other words, the second perforation causes an area slightly smaller than each area to be formed by the second perforation. Is formed. So, for example,
As described above, when the “A4” size printing paper is divided into four by the first cutting line to form “A6” size regions, each region is slightly smaller than the “A6” size. A rectangular cutting line may be formed so that an area is formed. As another example, claim 4
According to the invention, in the printing paper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the second cutting line is formed so as to extend from one end to the other in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction of the paper surface. There is a configuration that has been done. That is, the second cutting line is formed so as to extend from one end to the other end in the vertical and horizontal directions of the printing paper, thereby dividing each area into a substantially frame shape. Then, a portion where the second cutting line is shared between adjacent regions occurs, and when an image is printed on both of the adjacent regions, the second shared line is cut when the frame portion is cut out. It is not necessary to cut out the frame portion individually for each region.

As described above, in the printing paper according to the present embodiment, an image is expected to be printed in a frame sectioned by the second cutting line, and the shape and size in the frame are problematic. However, it seems that the shape of the frame does not matter. However, it is possible to improve convenience by setting the shape of the frame portion to a specific shape. As an example, the invention according to claim 5 is described in any one of claims 1 to 4. In the printing paper of (1), the second cutting line is formed such that the sides of the sides facing each other in the frame section defined by the second cutting line are equal in width. In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, in the frame portion defined by the second cutting line, the sides of the sides facing each other are made equal in width, so that the upper and lower sides of the printing paper or There is no distinction between left and right.
Therefore, as long as the printing direction is not mistaken in the vertical and horizontal directions, the image is printed as expected in the frame defined by the second cutting line.

[0014] As another example, the invention according to claim 6 is the printing paper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second cutting line is defined by the second cutting line. In the divided frame portion, the frame width on the rear side with respect to the paper feeding direction by the printing apparatus is formed to be longer than the front side. In the invention according to claim 6 configured as described above, in the frame section defined by the second cutting line, the frame width on the rear side in the paper feeding direction by the printing apparatus is longer, and the frame width on the front side is larger. Shorten. In many printing apparatuses, printing paper loaded in a sheet feeder is picked up from an insertion direction side, printing is performed while being conveyed by a predetermined paper feed roller, and the printing paper is discharged as it is. Therefore, since it is better from a mechanical point of view that the margin on the rear side is longer in the paper feeding direction, the width of the frame on the rear side is increased accordingly.

As described above, it is possible to cut out only the frame portion integrally at the second cutting line. In such a case, the cut-out frame portion is not scattered, so that the trouble of clearing is eliminated. However, of course, this is not limited to printing paper having the first and second cutting lines. For this reason, the invention according to claim 7 is a printing paper provided with a cutting line that can be cut, which divides the peripheral edge of the paper surface into a substantially frame shape, and easily cuts the divided frame portions integrally. The configuration is provided with possible cutting lines. In other words, if only the frame portion is cut off integrally with a cutting line that divides the periphery of the paper into a substantially frame shape, the frame portion is not scattered, so that clearing is easy.

By the way, as long as such printing paper is effective as an invention, there is no difference that an apparatus or the like for performing printing on the printing paper by the printing apparatus is also effective as the invention. Of course, the idea of the invention is not limited to a specific form, but includes various aspects. Therefore, it can be changed as appropriate, such as one that is substantially realized by software or one that is realized by hardware. For this reason, the invention according to claim 8 is a medium in which a print control program for generating print data and outputting the print data to a printing apparatus so that image data can be input and printed on a print sheet that can be cut is provided. An image data input step of inputting the image data; a paper information obtaining step of obtaining paper information of the printing paper; and the paper information obtained in the paper information obtaining step can print a paper surface on the printing device. When the printing paper is provided with a first cutting line that divides into a region of a large paper size and a second cutting line that divides the periphery of the region divided by the first cutting line into a substantially frame shape, A print data generating step of arranging a print image based on the image data so as to be printed in a frame defined by the second cutting line and generating the print data; and And Aru.

In the invention according to claim 8 configured as described above, when printing is performed on a print sheet that can be cut based on the image data input in the image data input step, the same is performed in the paper information obtaining step. Get the paper information of the print paper. Then, the paper information acquired in the print data generation step sets the first cutting line that divides the paper surface into a paper size area that can be printed by the printing apparatus and the periphery of the area that is partitioned by the first cutting line. If it is determined that the printing paper is provided with a second cutting line partitioned into a substantially frame shape, the printing image based on the image data is arranged so as to be printed in a frame partitioned by the second cutting line. To generate the print data. The image data referred to here is generally considered to be a lot of photo data. However, any image data that can be separated after printing may be used, and may be computer graphics or a combination of computer graphics and photo data. It does not matter. Of course,
Various data formats can be used for the image data, such as JPEG and bitmap. The color components of the image data may be of various types, such as the RGB type used on a computer or the CMYK type used in a color printer.

Here, the medium on which the program is recorded may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future. it can. Also, the duplication stages of the primary duplicated product, the secondary duplicated product, and the like are equivalent without any question. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the case where the present invention is used even when the supply is performed using a communication line. Further, even when a part is implemented by software and a part is implemented by hardware, the concept of the present invention is not completely different, and a part is stored on a recording medium and appropriately It may be in a form that can be read.

As the paper size of the printing paper provided with the first and second cutting lines, various sizes can be applied as described above. However, if the application is particularly limited, the paper size naturally becomes a specific size. The size is easy to use, and it is standardized as one form. In view of such circumstances, a ninth aspect of the present invention provides a medium in which the print control program according to the eighth aspect is recorded, wherein the paper information obtaining step includes the step of: When the user selects and obtains the paper information corresponding to the paper size selected by the same user, the paper size that can be selected by the user is limited for the printing paper having the first and second cutting lines. There is a configuration to do.

In the invention according to the ninth aspect, the user selects the paper size of the printing paper in the paper information obtaining step, and the paper size corresponding to the paper size selected here is selected. To get the paper information.
At this time, with respect to the printing paper having the first and second cutting lines, the paper size that can be selected by the user is limited. For example, when a sheet of “A4” size is divided into four equal parts in the vertical and horizontal directions by a first cutting line and divided into four areas of “A6” size, the selectable sheet size is set to “A6”.
4 "and" A6 "can be restricted, and it can be said that it is easy for the user to understand.

As described above, if the application is limited, the paper size can be standardized to a specific paper size. However, the target of the standardization is not limited to the paper size, and the same applies to the printing characteristics such as the material. Therefore, according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the medium on which the print control program according to any one of the eighth and ninth aspects is recorded, the print data generating step includes: When the information is printing paper having the first and second cutting lines, print data is generated according to the printing characteristics of the printing paper. That is, in the case of a print sheet having the first and second cutting lines, the print data generating step generates print data according to the print characteristics of the print sheet. For example, it is planned that an image mainly related to photographic data is printed on the printing paper having the first and second cutting lines,
Since it can be said that the material is standardized to a material suitable for this, a lookup table to be referred to at the time of color conversion may be switched according to the printing characteristics.

As described above, for a printing sheet provided with the first and second cutting lines, the print image is arranged in a frame defined by the second cutting line. It is not meant to be positioned and sized to fit snugly within. As an example,
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the medium on which the print control program according to any one of the eighth to tenth aspects is recorded, the print data generating step includes the step of: When the print image is arranged so as to be printed in the frame sectioned by the line, the print image is arranged so that a margin is slightly formed between the periphery of the print image and the inner end of the frame. In the invention according to claim 11 configured as described above, in the print data generating step, print data in which a print image is arranged in a frame sectioned by the second cutting line is generated. The position and size are adjusted so that a margin is formed between the periphery of the print image and the inner edge of the frame. That is, it is suitable for producing a bordered photo card or the like.

[0023] As another example, the invention according to claim 12 is a computer-readable recording medium storing a print control program according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the print data generating step includes the step of: In order to arrange the printed image based on the second cut line so as to be printed in the frame sectioned by the second cutting line, the printed image is arranged so that the peripheral edge of the printed image slightly protrudes into the frame portion. In the invention according to claim 12 configured as described above,
Similarly, in the print data generating step, print data in which the print image is arranged in the frame sectioned by the second cutting line is generated. At this time, the periphery of the print image slightly protrudes into the frame portion. So that Therefore, when the frame portion is cut off at the second cutting line, the printed image is finished fine without forming a margin on the periphery. That is, it is suitable for producing a borderless photo card.

Here, the periphery of the printed image is printed and cut out on a frame section defined by the second cutting line. The subject in a photograph or the main object in a computer graphics image is placed at the center of the image. Since it is normally arranged, it can be said that there is no particular problem when the periphery of the image is missing. However, it is needless to say that the number of missing portions is preferably small, and as an example of a preferable configuration for that, the invention according to claim 13 is based on the medium storing the print control program according to claim 12. The generation step is configured to expand and arrange a peripheral portion of a print image based on the image data. In the invention according to claim 13 configured as described above, in arranging the print image as described above, the peripheral portion of the image is expanded, and the expanded print image is arranged to generate print data. Then, the peripheral edge portion in the print image after expansion is printed and cut out on the frame portion sectioned by the second cutting line. Of course, it is possible to consider that a part of the extended part of the periphery of the printed image is printed in the frame sectioned by the second cutting line, but the extended part is very close to the original image and is used. Will not be noticeable.

As described above, when printing an image, paper information is acquired, and based on this paper information, when it is determined that the printing paper is a predetermined printing paper having the first and second cutting lines, the same processing is performed. Software that generates print data by arranging a print image in a frame sectioned by the second cutting line,
It is easy to understand that it is realized by being incorporated in a device, and also functions as such a device. Further, as described above, the function can be appropriately changed, for example, the function is substantially realized by software, or the function is realized by hardware.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus for generating print data and outputting the print data to a printing apparatus so that image data can be input and printed on a print sheet that can be cut. Image data input means for inputting the image data, paper information obtaining means for obtaining paper information of the printing paper, and the paper information obtained by the paper information obtaining means can print a paper surface on the printing device. In the case of a printing sheet having a first cutting line sectioned into a sheet size area and a second cutting line sectioning the periphery of the area sectioned by the first cutting line into a substantially frame shape, And a print data generating means for generating the print data by arranging a print image based on the image data so as to be printed in a frame sectioned by the second cutting line. That is, there is no difference that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the medium on which the program is recorded, and is also effective in an apparatus using a similar method.

Further, paper information is obtained when printing an image, and when it is determined based on the paper information that the printing paper is a predetermined printing paper having the first and second cutting lines, the second cutting is performed. The method of generating print data by arranging a print image in a frame defined by a line is not necessarily limited to a substantial medium or device. As an example thereof, the invention according to claim 15 is a print control method for generating print data so that image data can be input and printed on a printable paper, and outputting the print data to a printing apparatus. An image data inputting step of inputting image data, a paper information obtaining step of obtaining paper information of the printing paper, and a paper size on which the paper information obtained in the paper information obtaining step can print a paper surface by the printing apparatus. When the printing paper is provided with a first cutting line defined by the first cutting line and a second cutting line dividing the periphery of the area defined by the first cutting line into a substantially frame shape, the image data And a print data generating step of generating the print data by arranging the print image based on the print image in a frame sectioned by the second cutting line. That is, there is no difference that the method is not necessarily limited to a substantial medium or device, and is effective as a method.

[0028]

As described above, the present invention not only facilitates creation of a card-shaped printed matter by arranging the second cutting line on the printing paper, but also arranges the first cutting line. As a result, it is possible to provide a printing sheet that can easily make a blank portion that is not used for printing on one printing sheet into a shape suitable for reuse. In addition, it is also possible to cut out only the frame portion at the second cutting line, and in such a case, the cut-out frame portion is not scattered and the trash can be disposed of in a lump. Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, as a specific example of the cutting line, a simple configuration called a perforation can be applied. Further, according to the invention according to claim 3,
It is possible to provide an example of a specific configuration according to the paper size actually used. Further, according to the invention according to claim 4, since a portion where the second cutting line is shared between the adjacent regions is generated, when the image is printed on both of the adjacent regions, the second shared cutting line is shared. By cutting along the two cutting lines, it is not necessary to cut out the frame portion individually for each region, and the trouble of cutting can be saved.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the invention,
In the frame section sectioned by the second cutting line, the frame width between the sides facing each other is made equal,
There is no distinction between top and bottom or left and right on the printing paper and handling is easy. Further, according to the invention according to claim 6, in the frame portion partitioned by the second cutting line,
Since the width of the frame on the rear side with respect to the paper feeding direction of the printing apparatus is longer than that on the front side, this is advantageous from an actual paper feeding mechanism. Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 7, since the frame portion can be cut out integrally with the cutting line on the peripheral edge of the paper surface, the frame portion is not scattered and clearing is easy. Further, according to the invention according to claim 8, a medium on which a print control program suitable for use in printing an image such as a photograph on a print sheet having the first and second cutting lines is recorded. Can be provided.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention,
When the user selects a desired paper size from a plurality of types of paper sizes, the print paper having the first and second cutting lines is limited in the paper size that can be selected by the user. Therefore, it is easy for the user to understand and the setting error hardly occurs. Claim 10
According to the invention, when printing is performed on the printing paper provided with the first and second cutting lines, print data according to the printing characteristics is generated, so that the user can individually There is no need to set the print mode. According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the print image is arranged and printed so that a margin is slightly formed between the peripheral edge of the print image and the inner end of the frame defined by the second cutting line. Since the data is generated, it is suitable for creating a bordered photo card or the like.

Further, according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the print data is generated by arranging the periphery of the print image so as to protrude into the frame section defined by the second cutting line. No margin is formed on the periphery of the printed image when cut out, which is suitable for creating a borderless photo card or the like. According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, since the print data is generated by arranging the peripheral portion of the print image after performing the extension processing, the original image can be printed to the maximum extent. Even if a part of the extended portion is printed in the frame defined by the second cutting line, the extended portion is very close to the original image, and thus is difficult for the user to see. Further, according to the invention according to claim 14, a print control device suitable for printing an image such as a photograph on a print sheet having the first and second cutting lines in the same manner is provided. Claim 1 can be provided
According to the fifth aspect, a print control method can be provided.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a computer system for realizing a print control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The computer system 10 includes a scanner 11a, a digital still camera 11b, and a video camera 11c as image input devices for directly inputting image data, and is connected to a computer main body 12. Each input device is capable of generating image data expressing an image by dot matrix pixels and outputting the image data to the computer main unit 12. Here, the image data is displayed in 256 gradations in three primary colors of RGB. , About 16.7 million colors can be expressed.

The computer main body 12 includes electronic devices such as a CPU 12a, which is a center of arithmetic processing, a ROM 12b, in which a non-rewritable program is recorded, a RAM 12c for securing a work area, and a predetermined I / O 12d. These can be appropriately used to access an external device or execute a program.
As an example, a floppy disk drive 13a as an external auxiliary storage device, a hard disk 13b, and a CD-ROM drive 13c are connected to the computer main body 12, and main systems-related programs are recorded on the hard disk 13b. Necessary programs and the like can be read from a floppy disk or a CD-ROM as needed. The computer body 1
A modem 14a is connected as a communication device for connecting the 2 to an external network or the like. The modem 14a is connected to the external network via the same public communication line, and software and data can be downloaded and introduced.
In this example, the modem 14a accesses the outside via a telephone line. However, a configuration in which a network is accessed via a LAN adapter is also possible.

Here, among the external auxiliary storage devices, the floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 13a and the CD-RO
As for the M drive 13c, the recording medium itself is replaceable, and can be used as one means of an image input device by supplying image data in a state where the recording medium is recorded. Further, when accessing a network via the modem 14a or a LAN adapter, image data may be supplied from the network, and in such a case, the image data can be used as an image input device. In addition, a keyboard 15a and a mouse 15b as a pointing device for operating the computer body 12 are also connected,
Further, a speaker 18a and a microphone 18b are provided for multimedia. Further, a display 17a and a color printer 17b are provided as image output devices. The display 17a has a display area of 800 pixels in the horizontal direction and 600 pixels in the vertical direction, and can display the above-mentioned 16.7 million colors for each pixel. Of course, this resolution is only an example,
It can be changed as appropriate such as 640 × 480 pixels or 1024 × 768 pixels.

The color printer 17b as a printing apparatus is an ink jet printer, and drives the print head in the main scanning direction while conveying printing paper as a recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, thereby forming four color inks of CMYK in a dot-like manner. , The image can be printed. Image density is 36
High-density printing such as 0 × 360 dpi or 720 × 720 dpi is possible, but the gradation table is expressed in two gradations such as whether or not to apply color ink. The color ink is not limited to the four color inks, and it is possible to reduce the conspicuousness of dots by six colors including light cyan and light magenta, and color toner is used not only in the ink jet method. It is also possible to adopt an electrostatographic method or the like. The printing device does not necessarily need to be a color printer, but may be a black and white printer.

On the other hand, a predetermined program is executed in the computer main body 12 in order to input or display an image using such an image input device and display or output the image to an image output device. The operating system (OS) 12e operates as a basic program. The operating system 12e performs a print output to a display driver (DSP DRV) 12f for displaying on a display 17a and a color printer 17b. Printer driver (PRT DRV) 12g to be installed. These drivers 12f and 12g depend on the model of the display 17a and the color printer 17b, and can be additionally changed to the operating system 12e according to each model. Further, depending on the model, additional functions beyond the standard processing can be realized. That is, it is possible to realize various additional processes within an allowable range while maintaining a common processing system on the standard system of the operating system 12e.

The application 12h is executed on the operating system 12e as the basic program. The processing contents of the application 12h are various, and the keyboard 15a and the mouse 1 as operation devices are used.
5b is monitored, and when it is operated, various external devices are appropriately controlled to execute corresponding arithmetic processing and the like. Further, the processing result is displayed on the display 17a,
For example, the data is output to the color printer 17b. In such a computer system 10, image data can be acquired by reading a photograph or the like with a scanner 11a or the like, which is an image input device, and image data photographed by a digital still camera 11b or photographed by a video camera 11c can be acquired. Image data as a moving image can be obtained. Such image data is often viewed and enjoyed on the display 17a, and is often enjoyed by being output on the color printer 17b. In the computer system 10, when printing is performed by the color printer 17b from the application 12h based on the image data, if a perforated special paper described later is designated, the image is printed at a predetermined position and size on the printing paper. Generate print data for printing. In this sense, the application 12h and the computer system 10 are organically integrated to realize a print control device.

Here, the application 12h, which is image data printing software, includes image data photographed by the digital still camera 11b, image data stored in the hard disk 13b, and a CD-ROM drive 13c.
In the operation of acquiring the image data supplied from the CD-ROM via the CPU, the image data input means is organically configured with these hardware. Further, when printing with the application 12h, the keyboard 1 is urged by the operator on the display 17a.
The paper information acquisition means is configured to input an operation using the mouse 5b or the mouse 15b and acquire paper information such as the paper size and type of printing paper corresponding to the operation.

Further, in the printing stage of the application 12h, if it is determined based on the obtained paper information that the printing paper to be recorded is the perforated exclusive paper described later, the printing based on the image data is performed. Print data for printing an image at a predetermined position and size on the perforated exclusive paper is generated, and in this sense, constitutes print data generating means. Of course, in this case as well, it is organically integrated with various hardware in the computer system 10. These software programs are stored in the hard disk 13b and read and operated by the computer main body 12. At the time of introduction, the program is recorded on a medium such as a CD-ROM or a floppy disk and installed. Therefore, these media constitute the media on which the print control program is recorded.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control contents of the printing software. The main control unit 60 performs various comprehensive controls, the common function unit 20 performs various common controls, and the image data. Data management unit 30 that manages image data, an image modification control unit 40 that performs image modification for each image data, and a DPE that performs a series of print processing.
It comprises a print control unit 50. Main control unit 60
Executes a flow described later, and also executes various other functions that are not classified. One of them is an environment setting unit 60a, in which common settings and the like in the printing software are recorded as a setting information file 60b on the hard disk 13b, and can be read from other functional units as appropriate. In the setting information file 60b, various default designations, for example, designation of a fetch source of new image data are recorded.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed block diagram of the common function unit 20, some of which can be commonly called from other function units. For example, the image selection unit 20a causes the thumbnail creation unit 20i to create a thumbnail for each image data while the image display unit 20a.
A plurality of thumbnail images are displayed on the display 17a by m, and in that state, selection of each image is input by receiving a selection operation by the keyboard 15a or the mouse 15b. Of course, when the display is changed in accordance with the selection operation, the display is appropriately changed on the image display unit 20m, and the result of the selection is transferred to another functional unit.

The display designating section 20b designates display on the screen. When the size of the window area is changed according to the GUI operation, the display designation section 20b appropriately designates the display of the image. Become. The file editing unit 20c executes an operation of appropriately changing the storage area of the image data, and the like,
The search unit 20d executes a search based on parameters managed together with the image file, such as a comment or a date. The collective comment section 20e collectively processes comments on a plurality of image data, and the collective organizing section 20f collectively processes image data and parameters simultaneously.

The image processing unit 20g and the image editing unit 20h
While the image modification control unit 40 mainly generates various parameters when automatically executing the image processing, the image modification control unit 40 actually executes the image processing, and also executes the manually specified image processing. . This processing result is treated as temporary data in principle, and is reflected in the original image data when a change is made to the original image data during the actual processing. Further, for convenience of display and processing time, it is not always necessary to execute the processing based on the original image data. During the operation, the image processing unit 20g and the image editing unit 20h execute various processes based on the thumbnail image data. When the storage area of the image data is already registered by the file editing unit 20c, the image input unit 20j performs a process of reading the same image data at the time of image processing or print processing. In response to the existence of the data format, the image output unit 20k executes a process of converting the format and outputting.

Next, the film data management section 30 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a management structure of an image file 30a, which is image data managed by the film data management unit 30, photographic data 30b including parameters, and film data 30c used in grouping the image data. I have. Here, the image data is shown as an image file by being treated as a file in the computer system 10, and the parameters are shown as photograph data 30b together with various information corresponding to each image data. The film data 30c is information for grouping and managing image data, and is shown as a film metaphor in FIG. Here, the database of the photograph data 30b is
It is stored in a rewritable storage area on the computer system 10, and is stored in a fixed area regardless of a plurality of film metaphors. Of course, a plurality of databases can be physically provided, but the point is that the image data does not necessarily need to be formed on a medium in which image data is actually stored.

In FIG. 5, the physical recording form of the image file is shown on the left side of the figure. The operating system 12e forms a hierarchical structure in folder units, and stores the image file in each folder. It has become. The grouping of image data in the present embodiment physically utilizes exactly the hierarchical structure of this folder unit, and information is added and managed in this folder unit. That is, the minimum information constituting the film data 30c is a film name that can be arbitrarily attached,
Link destination indicating the actual storage area as the physical arrangement information of this folder, creation date, comment, media attribute,
The information includes a medium label, a film attribute, and the number of stored image files.

Further, as shown in the figure, each folder is identified as a film cartridge in management, and from a different viewpoint, the actual storage area is identified as a cartridge without individual awareness. , It is also close to Elias management. In addition, a mark indicating whether or not the physical storage area is a replaceable medium is displayed on the patrone to make it easy for the user to understand. That is, when the image file is supplied by a CD-ROM, the CD-ROM can be replaced. In this case, by replacing the CD-ROM, the actual CD-ROM drive 13c
It may not be attached to the device. In such a case, if the CD-ROM is not mounted, the display is not made non-display, but the display is performed based on the data after the film data is registered as the film data 30c. The operator can use CD-
It becomes easy to understand that reference cannot be made unless a ROM is set.

In this example, only marks that can be exchanged are shown, but information may be displayed by appropriately changing such marks. For example, the mark may be changed between a case where the CD-ROM is mounted and a case where the CD-ROM is not mounted as a replaceable storage area.
Also, if image data is stored in a storage area shared by a plurality of people on the network, a mark representing a network drive should be displayed, since if it is rewritten by each person, it becomes impossible to collect it. May be. Of course, if it is a network drive, it may be treated as writable or unwritable. Instead of changing the mark, the shape of the cartridge itself may be changed.

The specific structure of the photographic data 30b is shown in FIGS. Here, the index information includes a file name, a file date and time, a file size, and a shooting date and time, and thumbnail data obtained by reducing the image file is displayed as a thumbnail. The comment can be added to each image file. Is composed. In the printing software, a simultaneous printing process can be executed as a series of image data processes by the main control unit 60, and FIG. 6 shows a screen display in the simultaneous printing process. In this case, the main control unit 60 controls the display designation unit 2 of the common function unit 20.
0b to the keyboard 15a and the mouse 1 while displaying the same screen on the display 17a.
5b is received.

On the simultaneous print processing screen, a leftward portion on the screen is an operation display area, in which tabs are displayed along a flow of a series of data processing. In this example, "enter photo", "modify photo"
The tabs “print designation” and “print” are displayed, and a downward “△” mark is displayed between them. Needless to say, the data processing can be performed in a sequence of “photo input” processing, “photo modification” processing, “print designation” processing, and “printing” processing, so that desired image data can be printed neatly. In the past, it was naturally possible to execute the same processing, but in that case, the work must be carried out by assuming the flow of the procedure by itself. That is, 1: image data is opened from a file menu, 2: an image modification operation is designated from a tool menu, a desired palette is displayed while a necessary palette is displayed, and then saved. The format to be printed is designated by the print layout in the file menu, 4: the print preview is confirmed in the file menu, and 5: finally, the print in the file menu is executed. Of course, when printing a plurality of image data, it is necessary to determine the print target from the file menu in this process.

On the other hand, the digital still camera 11
The printing of the photograph taken in b corresponds to specifying simultaneous printing by the DPE as compared with the case of normal photographing, and a series of data processing is made to correspond to the work of simultaneous printing. It is possible to execute a series of data processing even if the user is not familiar with the application. Although the display of “photo input” is displayed on the simultaneous print processing screen of FIG. 6, image data management by the film data management unit 30 is substantially performed. The left part of the display area is the operation display area, but the remaining display area is the main display area, and the left part of it is the group display area for grouping and displaying image data. The remaining portion is an image display area for displaying, when a certain group is selected, image data belonging to that group as thumbnails.

This group display area is an area for displaying a film metaphor corresponding to a folder unit as described above, and displays a film name, a comment, a date, and a stored image while displaying a film cartridge as a frame. Displays the number of files. Of course, if the properties of each film metaphor are displayed, all information such as a film name, a link destination, a date, a comment, a medium attribute, a medium label, a film attribute, and the number of stored image files will be displayed. The display area of the group display area can be appropriately increased or decreased by using a GUI. If the display area cannot be completely displayed, scroll display is added or reduced. Of course, by selecting and operating one of a plurality of displayed film metaphors, an image file 30a stored in a folder corresponding to the selected film metaphor is displayed as a thumbnail in the image display area. Will be.

Further, not only the film management is realized by the patrone, but also a layer of a higher concept called a film case is prepared, and the group management can be performed by storing the patrone in the film case. . In this case, one patrone does not necessarily have to be accommodated in one film case, and data for identifying the film case to be accommodated for each patrone is prepared, and a plurality of this data are stored. Be prepared to do it. By doing so, it is possible to accommodate the same patrone in a plurality of film cases according to the management divisions with different viewpoints, though physically impossible.

In this embodiment, since the image data is managed by using the hierarchical structure of the folder adopted by the operating system 12e, the operator directly operates the computer system 10 to store the image data in the folder. It is also possible to store the image file 30a. In this case, there may be a difference between the presence or absence of the image file 30a in the folder and the photograph data 30b. In this case, the presence or absence of the image file 30a in the folder , And the photograph data 30b is appropriately increased or decreased. In this sense, the photographic data 30 corresponding to the image file 30a existing in the folder corresponding to the film metaphor.
It is determined whether or not there is b, and if there is the photograph data 30b, display is performed using the thumbnail data. If there is no photograph data 30b, the thumbnail creating unit 20i creates and displays the thumbnail data. The photo itself is portrait or landscape, and one thumbnail display area is a square that can accommodate both, and the serial number and the actual file name are displayed outside the frame.

In this state, the operator displays the image data in the image display area while judging the group while watching the display in the patrone displayed in the group display area.
Further, image data to be printed is selected. This selection operation is received by the image selection unit 20a. The selected image data is displayed by changing the color of the frame portion of the thumbnail display area, so that the presence or absence of selection can be easily determined. Then, the selection result is not only the "modification of the photo" but also the "print"
Will be reflected as an output target in the processing of. In these cases, the physical arrangement information is referred to in each processing, and the actual processing is not performed by moving the image data to be selected to the temporary area.

Assuming that image data to be printed is selected in "photo input", it is obvious from the display in the operation display area that the next process is "modification of photo". In this “photo modification”, image modification can be performed only on the selected image data. The image modification is performed by selecting the image processing unit 20g shown in FIG. 3 or the image modification control unit 4 shown in FIG.
0 executes. Image modification is performed automatically by changing the brightness and contrast according to the operator's preference, or manually adjusting the color to emphasize a specific color component, or by statistically summarizing each pixel constituting the image data. It is possible to perform automatic image retouching, which performs retouching dynamically. In the former manual image modification, when manual image adjustment is selected by a menu operation as shown in FIG. 8 using the keyboard 15a and the mouse 15b, the image processing unit 20g executes the corresponding image processing. In the menu operation shown in the figure, if the user selects the manual image modification in the drop-down menu while clicking the image modification, it is possible to select between “brightness / contrast” modification and “color enhancement” modification.

In manual image modification, the degree of modification is instructed by using a GUI. That is, the GUI display is operated with the mouse 15b to reflect the result of the manual modification. In the present embodiment, the image processing unit 20g can perform stepwise enhancement processing on brightness and contrast, and based on the premise, a parameter representing each degree of enhancement is prepared, and the selected modification result is represented. The parameters are reflected on the management parameter of the degree of enhancement of the brightness component and the management parameter of the degree of enhancement of the contrast. The manual image modification is not limited to the brightness and the contrast. The enhancement process can be performed on each of the red component, the green component, and the blue component, and the parameter representing the degree of each enhancement is a management parameter of the degree of enhancement of the red component. When,
The management parameter of the green component emphasis level and the management parameter of the blue component emphasis level are respectively reflected.

On the other hand, the automatic image modification is performed by the image modification controller 40.
Runs. More specifically, when the image feature extraction unit 40a extracts image features based on the image data, the modification information creation unit 40b creates parameters necessary for the modification, and the modification designation unit 40c uses the same parameters to The actual processing is performed by the image processing unit 20g that has performed the processing. FIG. 9 shows a display screen when performing automatic screen modification by menu operation, and FIG. 10 shows a display in the main display area when performing automatic image modification. As shown in the figure, the image before the modification of the selected image data is displayed in the upper part of the thumbnail, and the image after the automatic modification described above is displayed in the lower part of the thumbnail. The operator looks at the two, compares them, and selects which is better. Of course,
The selection can be made by clicking the thumbnail on the desired side with the mouse 15b, and the display specification section 20b can discriminate the clicked side by, for example, highlighting the frame portion. By default, before modification is selected, the modified state may be selected only for the side clicked with the mouse, or it is assumed that in most cases, the modified image will be selected. The default may be changed to a selected state after the modification.

In these scenes, a command button of "execute" and a command button of "cancel" are provided at the bottom, and when the command button of "execute" is clicked with a mouse, it is prepared for each image data. The modification information of the photograph data 30b is updated. In addition, the image modification includes various processes reflected in the display of image data in a broad sense, and includes trimming and rotation of the image in a broad sense. Trimming is useful when you want to print with the same telephone card size, and the necessity is high. For this reason, in the trimming operation, a trimming designation frame serving as a mark is always displayed, and the target image can be collectively executed. Since the aspect ratio may be shifted depending on the trimming, it is possible to select whether or not to fix the aspect ratio.
It is preferable to prepare an aspect ratio such as 2: 3 for silver halide photography or 1: 3 for panoramic photography. Even if the trimming is executed in a lump and printed in a uniform size, the original image data is not deformed, so that there is an advantage that the original image data can be easily restored.

In this example, although the automatic image modification is selectively performed, there is no way not to use such a function, and especially in the inexperienced operation, even if such a function exists, the selection operation can be known. There is another problem. Therefore, it is also convenient that the automatic image modification is performed by default at the time of inputting the photograph, so that the process of modifying the photograph is not displayed. FIG. 11 shows an example of a screen display in such a case. In the example shown in the figure, a process of “selection of film” is added before “input of photo” as an operation, and a process of “print designation” is executed after “input of photo”. As shown in FIG. 6, a new film can be selected in the process of “photo input”, and a photo may be selected. However, in the case of FIG. 11, a “film selection” screen is first displayed. By performing the display, selection of photographic data in patrone units or selection of a new film is performed first to make it easier to understand.

In this screen display, command buttons for “previous step” and “next step” are prepared in the upper part on the right side of the screen in order to give instructions for proceeding or returning the processing. When the "step" is executed, the process is returned, and when the "next step" is executed, the process proceeds. Furthermore, a simple explanation of the processing of each stage can be displayed on the upper part of the screen. For example, at the "Film selection" stage, the message "Select a film and proceed to the next. A new film can be created by" Adding a film "" is displayed.

Returning to the description of the simultaneous printing process shown in FIG. 6, after the photo modification, the "print designation" is performed.
This is the process. Already, "Enter Photo" and "Modify Photo"
Has been selected, image data to be printed is selected, and image processing to be performed on the image data is selected. In the “print designation”, the layout of the selected image data to be printed is designated. FIG. 12 shows a specific configuration of the DPE print control unit 50 that executes the process of “print designation” and the next “print”. Print image designation section 5
0a inherits the designation of the image data selected as described above, and executes the "print designation" process by the frame designation unit 50b and the layout designation unit 50c, and under the control of the print designation unit 50d. The print style creating unit 50e and the print image processing unit 50f generate actual print data.

FIG. 13 shows a display in the main display area in the "print designation". In the upper part of the main display area, a display area that can be scrolled in the horizontal direction is arranged at a designated portion of “print size” so that a layout pattern can be displayed. In FIG.
Layouts such as “size”, “E size”, and “business card size” are displayed, but it is assumed that other layout patterns are also mounted. A check box for "Perforated special paper" is provided in the "Details" designated area in the middle of the main display area. I do. In addition, it is possible to specify whether or not to add a border to the print image by arranging a check box of “Bordered”.
If "bordered" is designated here, the desired title can be printed on "border" by checking the "Print title on border" check box disposed below. Below it, check boxes for “Date printing” and “Register mark printing” are arranged, and by appropriately checking these check boxes, the date printing and cutting position can be used as a guide. You can print dragonflies.

When printing, it is necessary to generate print data according to the model of the color printer 17b.
In the lower part of the main display area, there is provided a selection display area for “printer setting”. In the selection display area, "printer", "paper size", and "paper quality" can be designated, and a desired printer device, paper size, and the paper quality can be selected from drop-down menus. Of course, the selectable paper size depends on the actually selected printer device. As an example, FIG. 14 shows a "paper size" drop-down menu when the color printer 17b is selected from the "printer" drop-down menu. Referring to the figure, it can be seen that the color printer 17b can print on sheets such as "A4", "B5", and "A6". Although not shown, in the drop-down menu of "paper quality", "plain paper", "fine paper", "super fine paper", and the like can be selected.

FIG. 15 shows a perforated sheet used in this embodiment. In the figure, perforated special paper S1 is “A4” size super fine special paper, and in the longitudinal direction thereof, a perforation C1 extending from one end to the other end and four perforations D1 are formed. Similarly, a perforation C2 and four perforations D2 are formed in the direction. Here, the perforations C1 divide the paper surface equally in the horizontal direction, and the perforations C2 divide the paper surface equally in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the perforations C1 and C2 are divided into four equal parts in the area S1a of the “A6” size. In this sense, the perforations C1 and C2 constitute a first cutting line. On the other hand, the perforations D1 and D2 jointly divide the outer edge of each area S1a into a frame and form an area of a normal “L size” size in the frame. D2 constitutes a second cutting line.

In the perforated exclusive paper S1,
An image is scheduled to be printed in a frame defined by perforations D1 and D2 in each area S1a, and after printing, the image is appropriately cut at these perforations. As an example, as shown in FIG.
When an image is printed on a, it is preferable to cut it as shown in FIG. In the drawing, first, the sheet is cut into an upper half and a lower half at a horizontal perforation C2. Then, the upper half is cut at two horizontal perforations D2 disposed at the upper and lower ends thereof, and then cut at four vertical perforations D1. On the other hand, when the lower half is cut at the vertical perforation C1, two blank sheets of "A6" size are obtained.
As described above, the color printer 1 according to the present embodiment
7b can print on “A6” size paper, so that printing can be performed again on this “A6” size paper. When cutting at perforations C1, C2, D1, and D2, bend at the perforation to be cut,
The cutting can be performed easily and neatly by making the creases appropriately.

As described above, when the perforated special paper S1 according to the present embodiment is used, when a plurality of images are printed on a single sheet and cut as appropriate to form a photo card or the like, scissors, cutters, and the like are used. It can be cut very easily and neatly without using. Also, the unprinted area can be reused as “A6” size paper, and the margin is not wasted. In the present embodiment, the perforated exclusive paper S1 shown in FIG. 15 has been described. However, the paper size is not limited to “A4” and may be changed to a size such as “B4”. . However, even in such a case, it is necessary that the sheet can be reused by appropriately cutting it at a perforation formed in a blank portion that has not been printed.

Similarly, even a special paper with perforations of "A4" size may have another configuration. As an example, FIG. 18 shows a perforated sheet S2.
In the figure, perforations C1 and C2 equally divide the “A4” size super fine special paper in the horizontal and vertical directions.
There is no difference in that the area is divided into four by the perforations C1 and C2 into the area S2a of the “A6” size.
However, in the perforated exclusive paper S2, the form of the perforation D3 that divides the outer edge into a frame shape in each area S2a is different from that described above. That is, in the configuration shown in FIG. 15, the region S1 adjacent in the vertical or horizontal direction is
It can be said that the perforations D1 and D2 are shared between a, whereas the one shown in FIG. 16 is different because an independent rectangular perforation D3 is formed for each region S2a. I do. Of course, in this case, the perforations D3 constitute the second cutting line.

When an image is printed on the perforated exclusive paper S2 in, for example, two upper half areas S2a in the same manner as shown in FIG. 16, the image is cut at the perforation C2 in the same manner. Into upper and lower halves, and in each area S2a of the upper half, a perforation D
3, and cut along this perforation D3. Then, as shown in FIG.
Only the frame part can be cut cleanly. On the other hand, when the lower half cut at the perforation C1 is cut at the vertical perforation C1 in the same manner as described above, “A
Two blank sheets of 6 "size are obtained and can be reused for later printing.

The perforated exclusive paper S1 shown in FIG. 15 and the perforated exclusive paper S2 shown in FIG. 18 have the following features, respectively. First, perforated paper S1
For example, when an image is printed in two adjacent areas S1a as shown in FIG. 16, if the image is printed in two areas S1a as shown in FIG.
2 can be cut all together at once, and there is no need to cut individually in each region S1a. Therefore, it can be said that it is easy to handle because the trouble of cutting is omitted. In the case shown in FIG. 16, the image is printed in the region S1a adjacent in the horizontal direction, but it goes without saying that the image is printed in the region S1a adjacent in the vertical direction. The same is true. That is, in such a case, it can be said that the vertical perforations D1 are shared by both regions S1a, and the shared perforations D1 are shared.
If one is cut at a time, the trouble of cutting can be saved.

On the other hand, regarding the perforated special paper S2, although it is necessary to cut the perforated area D3 for each area S2a, as shown in FIG. There is a merit that it is easy to dispose in a unit. Of course, one sheet of perforated special paper S
Even when the image is printed in all four regions S2a in 2, it is possible to cut out only the frame portion without scattering the frame portion. Further, as described above, when cutting a perforation, in consideration of the fact that it is possible to be easily and neatly cut by folding it at the perforation to be cut and making an appropriate crease, it is possible to perform cutting. As shown, a predetermined fold curve D3a may be formed on the extension of the four corners of the perforation D3 so that the frame portion can be easily bent. The folding curve D3a may be formed by slightly depressing the paper surface, or may be a sewing machine having a coarser density than that which is to be cut like perforations C1, C2 and D3. It may be formed by eyes and in a form that can be folded but cannot be easily cut. Further, the perforations to be cut here broadly include those in which portions penetrating the front and back surfaces of the paper and portions connected thereto are alternately arranged, and the perforated exclusive paper S4 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, most of the sheet penetrates the front and back surfaces of the sheet, and a perforation D4 can be formed so as to be connected by a small portion.

Looking at the frame portion in the area S1a of the perforated exclusive paper S1, it can be seen that the frame widths of the sides facing each other in the vertical direction are different. Specifically, the width of the lower frame is longer than the width of the upper frame, but this is because it is advantageous from the viewpoint of the paper feed mechanism. That is, the color printer 17b executes printing by driving the print head in the horizontal direction of the paper while conveying the upper side of the paper of the perforated exclusive paper shown in FIG. Since the paper is conveyed and discharged, it is easier to handle when the print margin on the rear side with respect to the paper feeding direction is longer. For this reason, the width of the frame on the rear side with respect to the paper feeding direction, that is, on the lower side of the paper surface is increased.

Of course, the frame width of the above-mentioned frame portion is arbitrary and can be changed as appropriate as long as such a paper feed is not hindered. As an example, perforated special paper S5 shown in FIG.
In each of the regions S5a similarly partitioned by the perforations C1 and C2, the widths of the upper and lower sides of the sheet in the frame portion partitioned by the perforations D3 are made equal,
The right and left side frame widths are equal. With such a configuration, since there is no distinction between upper and lower or left and right in the perforated special paper S5 or the area S5a, it is preferable that the printing direction is not mistaken. Although the frame width can be changed as appropriate, it is needless to say that it is necessary to secure the non-printable area since the print paper always has the non-printable areas at the upper and lower ends and the left and right ends.

Further, in this embodiment, perforations are used as the first and second cutting lines. However, the first and second cutting lines can be easily formed without using scissors or cutters. Any other configuration may be used as long as it can be cut. For example, in the printing paper S6 shown in FIG. 23, there is no difference from the above in that the printing paper S6 is divided into four regions S6a by the perforations C1 and C2. The cut portion is adhered with an adhesive such as glue to form a cutting line D6, so that the cut line D6 can be integrally handled as one sheet. Of course, in such a case, the cutting line D6 constitutes the second cutting line.

The printing paper S7 shown in FIG. 24 has a top paper S7c adhered to a predetermined backing paper S7b in a releasable manner, and is formed in a seal shape as a whole. Similarly, four printing papers S1 and C2 It is partitioned into the area S7a. Further, in each of the regions S7a, only the upper sheet S7c is cut into a frame at the periphery to form a cutting line D7. Of course, the printing paper S7 is also expected to have an image printed in a frame defined by the cutting line D7, and the photo paper card or the like can be easily obtained simply by peeling off the upper paper S7c along the cutting line D7. Can be created. Therefore, in such a case, the cutting line D7 constitutes a second cutting line.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 25 shows a main routine of the application 12h for the "print designation". In the figure, in step 100, the above-mentioned "print designation" process is executed. Here, the screen control flow of the main display area in the “print designation” is shown in FIG.
Shown in In the figure, in step 200, it is determined whether or not the check box for "perforated special paper" is checked. As a result, if the check box is checked, the layout is fixed to the “L size” layout in the “print size” display area in step 205, and the “register mark print” check box is checked in the next step 210. Invalidate and disable checking. Then, in step 215, only “A4” and “A6” are limited to be selectable from the “paper size” drop-down menu, and “paper quality” is fixed to “super fine exclusive paper” in step S220. That is, the "A4" size perforated exclusive paper S1 shown in FIG. 15, or "A6" obtained by cutting this perforated exclusive paper S1.
Since it is assumed that printing is performed on dedicated paper of a size or the like, the setting is fixed or the selection range is limited accordingly. Therefore, when the check box of “perforated special paper” is checked, the user only has to select “A4” or “A6” from the “paper size” drop-down menu.

Thereafter, in step 225, "borders exist"
It is determined whether or not the check box is checked. If the check box is checked, the check box of “Print title at border” is enabled in step 230 to enable the check. . Therefore, only when the user checks the "Bordered" check box, the "Print title on border"
Check the appropriate check box. Of course, as a result of the determination in step 225, if the “bordered” check box is not checked, it goes without saying that the “print title at border” check box is invalidated and cannot be checked. On the other hand, step 200
If the result of the determination in step 225 is that the check box for “perforated special paper” is not checked, step 225
It is determined whether or not the “bordered” check box is checked. As a result, when the check box is checked, the check box of “print title at border” is similarly enabled in step 230 to enable selection.

When the "print designation" is completed and the "print" tab on the screen shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 11 is clicked, the print size detected in step 235 and selected by the "print designation" and the "perforation" The contents of the detailed settings such as "paper containing only" and "bordered", the contents of the printer settings such as "paper size" and "paper quality", the information of the selected image data, and the like are fetched.
Then, the processing shifts to processing No. 5. In this sense, it can be said that the application 12h has an image input step and a paper information acquisition step. In step 105, it is determined whether or not “perforated special paper” is designated based on the acquired information. As a result, if “perforated exclusive paper” is designated, in step 110, perforated paper is designated. The inserted paper layout is executed, and if not specified, the normal paper layout is executed in step 115 and the main routine ends.

After the layout processing is performed, a print preview screen as shown in FIG. 27 may be displayed in order to show the paper use status. In the figure, the print image is reduced and displayed in page units in the main display area of “print”, and “right”, “next page”, “detail” and "Print" command button is arranged. Here, each command button can be selected by a mouse click operation. By clicking the command button, a preview of the previous page or the next page, a detailed preview, or printing can be executed.
In addition, the required number of sheets and the percentage used for printing on the last page are displayed on the left side of the print image, so that the required number of sheets and the last page can be used without previewing to the last page. The situation is made clear at a glance. Of course, without displaying such a print preview screen, only the necessary number of sheets and the use status of the last page may be displayed as a message, and can be changed as appropriate.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the perforated layout in step 110. In the figure, in step 300, it is determined whether or not “bordered” is designated based on the fetched information. As a result, when “bordered” is designated, in step 305, a predetermined border is determined. The layout for presence is acquired, while if not specified, a predetermined borderless layout is acquired in step 310. The bordered layout here is for arranging a print image in the frame of the area S1a as described above. More specifically, as shown in FIG. The printed image is arranged so that is formed. Since the print position of the print image here can be represented as the coordinates of the upper left corner (xan, yan) and the lower right corner (xan, yan) of the print image with reference to the upper left corner of the sheet, the processing in step 305 corresponds to each area S1a. Then, these predetermined coordinates are obtained. Here, the possible value of “n” is an integer of “1 to 4”, which correspond to the upper left side, upper right side, lower left side, and lower right side area S1a of the perforated special paper S1, respectively.

On the other hand, the borderless layout is also for arranging the print image in the frame of the area S1a.
As shown in FIG. 9B, the print image is arranged so that the periphery slightly protrudes into the frame portion of the region S1a. Of course, in such a case, the position of the print image is similarly determined by the upper left corner (Xan, Yan) and the lower right corner (Xbn, Ybn) of the print image.
, And the processing in step 310 is nothing but obtaining these predetermined coordinates. Needless to say, the possible values of “n” and their corresponding relationships are the same as those described above. In the case of the borderless layout, the print image having the same size as the inside of the frame should be originally arranged so as to fit exactly in the frame. When the portion is cut off, a margin may be formed at the inner end of the frame, and the frame may not be finished finely. Therefore, if the printed image is made slightly larger than the above-mentioned size in the frame, and if the periphery of the printed image is arranged so as to slightly protrude into the frame portion, no margin is generated at the inner edge of the frame, so that the image can be neatly finished. Become.

In the case of the border layout, the title may be specified to be printed on the border in some cases. Therefore, after the processing in step 305, in step 315, whether title printing is specified based on the fetched information described above. Determine whether or not. As a result, if title printing is specified, a predetermined title layout is obtained in step 320. This title layout is for printing titles such as image data file names and comments on the borders of each print image. Of course, the print position can also be represented by coordinates based on the upper left corner of the paper. In step 320, the coordinates are obtained.
In step 325, it is determined whether or not date printing is specified based on the fetched information, regardless of whether the layout is bordered layout or borderless layout. As a result, date printing is specified. If so, a predetermined date layout is obtained in step 330. This date layout is for printing a date at a predetermined position on each print image. Needless to say, the print position can also be represented by coordinates based on the upper left corner of the paper. To get.

On the other hand, FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the normal paper layout in step S115. In FIG. 4, in step 400, layout of each frame is performed according to the paper size, print size, presence / absence of borders, and the like based on the fetched information, and the coordinates are obtained in the same manner. More specifically, the processing is performed by a predetermined arithmetic processing, which is within the category of the related art, and will not be described in detail here. As an example, when printing an image with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 imaged by a digital still camera in “L size”, up to four images are arranged on one sheet of “A4” paper. In the case of A5 "paper, a maximum of two images are arranged on one sheet. Here "A
Regarding the sheet No. 4 ", the layout is as shown in FIG. 30 or FIG. 32 according to the specification of bordered or borderless.

In the image shown in FIG. 31, the print images are arranged at a predetermined width apart from each other. Is formed. Here, the print image is arranged so that a border having a predetermined width is formed without cutting the top and left ends of the sheet. That is, in a printer device, a non-printable area exists at the upper and lower ends and right and left ends of a sheet, and a margin is always formed.
By appropriately arranging the print images in anticipation of the margin, the number of cuts is reduced. On the other hand, in the layout shown in FIG. 32, the layout is such that print images are adjacent to each other. However, at this time, the width of the boundary line is set to the horizontal interval and the vertical interval while forming the mark line so that the cutting line does not become unknown. In this way, the print images are printed side by side with a margin corresponding to the width of the mark line while being marginless, and the mark line naturally appears. Note that the mark line may be fixedly “black” or “white”, an arbitrary color may be selected, or a broken line.

After the layout processing of each frame is performed in step 400, it is determined in next step 405 whether or not register mark printing has been specified. At 410, the layout of the register marks to be printed is determined. For example, when register mark printing is specified in the margin layout shown in FIG. 31, a register mark serving as a guide when cutting is printed as shown in FIG. Then, step 415
Then, it is determined whether or not title printing is designated. As a result, if title printing is designated, the title layout is similarly determined in step 420. Then, in step 425, it is determined whether or not date printing has been designated. As a result, if date printing has been designated, the date layout is similarly determined in step 430.

When performing various setting processes as described above, the set contents are stored, and the next time the next execution is performed, the previous set contents are read and set as default values. Therefore, steps that do not need to be specified each time, for example, processing such as print specification, can be skipped as appropriate. Conversely, a warning may be displayed while skipping processing that has not yet been set.
Of course, these settings are saved for each selected printing process. For this reason, the paper selection or the like selected in each print process is not reflected in the settings of the print process of another form, and has an adverse effect that the process is skipped while an unexpected paper is selected. Not even.

When generating print data, the application 12h works in cooperation with the printer driver 12g. FIG. 34 shows a flowchart of this process. In step 500, a print function is activated to generate various drawing images. As described above, the print position of each print image has already been determined, and the title, date, or register mark position has also been determined. Therefore,
The application 12h appropriately starts a print drawing command, which is a print function in the printer driver 12g, and starts preparation for printing. For example, perforated special paper S
When an image is printed by designating a margin with respect to 1, the coordinates of the upper left corner of the drawing position of the first printed image are (xa1, ya1), and the coordinates of the lower right corner are (x
b1, yb1). The print image processing unit 50f on the side of the application 12h executes a predetermined print drawing command to the operating system 12e so as to draw the bitmap image data while specifying this area. These data are transferred to the printer driver 12g. Then, the printer driver 12g accumulates the sequentially input print drawing command and the corresponding data, and starts drawing in the virtual drawing area when a single command is given.

The order in which the print drawing commands are activated is arbitrary by designating the information of the overlap, but the print image processing section 50f outputs the print image, the register mark, the title,
The print function is activated sequentially in the order of date. FIG.
Shows a flowchart of a processing procedure based on the print image function. In the figure, in step 600, the selected image data is sequentially acquired, and in the next step 605, it is determined whether or not the perforated special paper is designated and the borderless is designated. As a result, "True
If (true), in step 610, a predetermined image edge process is performed on the acquired image data. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step 605, "False
(False) ”or after executing the image edge processing in step 610, in step 615, the print drawing command on the printer driver 12g side is activated. Then, the same processing is repeatedly executed until it is determined that the processing for all the image data selected in step 620 is completed.

In the image edge processing in step 610, the process shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, a predetermined width from the periphery of the original image is set as a processing target frame, and the image in the processing target frame is enlarged or pixel data in the processing target frame is sequentially copied outward from the peripheral edge of the original image. To form an expansion frame. Most of the expansion frame will be cut out as described above.
Further, even if a part of the expansion frame remains in the frame of the region S1a, the subject is usually arranged at the center of the image, and it can be said that the subject is less noticeable to the user. Needless to say, if the print image is simply enlarged as a whole and arranged so that its peripheral edge slightly protrudes into the frame portion of the region S1a, no margin should be generated at the inner end of the frame. Nevertheless, the purpose of performing the image edge processing is to finish the edge inside the frame neatly while keeping the original image as much as possible even if the periphery of the print image is cut off. In addition, although the frame width of the expansion frame in the present embodiment is a fixed value that is defined in advance, a configuration that can be set by a user may be adopted. Further, in the present embodiment, the image edge processing is applied only when printing on the perforated exclusive paper S1 without margins. You may make it apply. However, in such a case, the boundary of the original image is difficult to understand, and it can be said that it is easy to understand if a standard for cutting such as a broken line or a register mark is arranged by default.

When all print functions corresponding to the print image, register mark, title, and date are activated in step 500, the remaining processing is performed by the printer driver 12g. In step 505, color conversion from RGB to CMYK is performed. The processing of is performed. At this time, the printer driver 12g executes the color conversion by switching the lookup table to be referred according to the paper quality. Then, at step 510, 256
The gradation is converted into two gradations, and print data is output to the color printer 17b in step 515. Then
A plurality of print images are printed on printing paper by the color printer 17b. In this case, the perforated special paper S
If 1 is selected, the print image is arranged and printed in the frame formed by the perforations D1 and D2, and the print mode is also performed corresponding to the super fine exclusive paper. Of course, in this sense, it can be said that the application 12h includes a print data generation step.

As described above, the “A4” size paper is divided into four “A6” size areas S by the perforations C1 and C2.
1a, and an image is printed on the perforated exclusive paper S1 in which the periphery of each area S1a is framed by perforations D1 and D2.
An image is printed in a frame defined by D2 and the frame portion is cut out, while an area S1 not used for printing is printed.
For a, cut at perforations C1 and C2, "A6"
Because it can be reused as the size paper for the next print,
The cutout is easy, and the margin after the cutout can be easily reused.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of specific hardware of a print control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the print control apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a common function unit.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a film data management unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing a data structure managed by the film data management unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen of a simultaneous printing process.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of an image modification control unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen when a process of manual image adjustment is performed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen when performing an automatic image adjustment process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation screen when performing automatic image modification processing.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation screen when automatic image modification is performed by default.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a DPE print control unit.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen when performing print designation processing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the operation screen is displayed in a drop-down manner with a paper size.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an example of perforated special paper.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing perforated exclusive paper on which an image is printed.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing an example of a perforation cutting mode using the perforated exclusive paper.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing perforated exclusive paper according to another example.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing an example of a perforation cutting mode using the perforated exclusive paper.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a perforated exclusive paper having a folding curve formed in a frame portion.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a perforated special paper according to another example.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a perforated special paper without distinction between top and bottom or left and right.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a printing sheet according to another example.

FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a printing sheet according to another example.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a main flow.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a screen control flow when print is designated.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a print preview screen.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a perforated sheet layout.

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing an image printing situation when a margin is designated and when no border is designated.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a normal paper layout.

FIG. 31 is an example of a print layout in a case where bordered is designated on normal paper.

FIG. 32 is an example of a print layout when borderless printing is specified for normal paper.

FIG. 33 is an example of a print layout in which register marks are arranged when borders are specified on normal paper.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of print data generation processing.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a print image function.

FIG. 36 is a diagram for describing image edge processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer system 11a ... Scanner 11b ... Digital still camera 11c ... Video camera 12 ... Computer main body 12a ... CPU 12b ... ROM 12c ... RAM 12d ... I / O 12e ... Operating system 12f ... Display driver 12g ... Printer driver 12h ... Application 13a Floppy disk drive 13b Hard disk 13c CD-ROM drive 14a Modem 15a Keyboard 15b Mouse 17a Display 17b Color printer 18a Speaker 18b Microphone 20 Common function unit 20a Image selection unit 20b Display designation unit 20c: File editing unit 20d: Search unit 20e: Batch comment unit 20f: Batch organizing unit 20g: Image processing unit 20h: Image editing unit 2 i ... Thumbnail creation unit 20j ... Image input unit 20k ... Image output unit 20m ... Image display unit 30 ... Film data management unit 30a ... Image file 30b ... Photo data 30c ... Film data 40 ... Image modification control unit 40a ... Image feature extraction unit 40b: Modification information creation unit 40c: Modification designation unit 50: DPE print control unit 50a: Print image designation unit 50b: Frame designation unit 50c: Layout designation unit 50d: Print designation unit 50e: Print style creation unit 50f: Print image processing unit Reference numeral 60: Main control unit 60a: Environment setting unit 60b: Setting information file S1: Special paper with perforations S1a: Areas C1, C2, D1, D2: Perforations

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AQ05 AR01 AS02 HH13 HL01 HN19 2C087 AB01 AC07 BA03 BA07 BB02 CA04 CB16 5B021 AA30 KK02 LB07 LE01 LE06

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A printing paper suitable for use in a printing device capable of printing in a plurality of types of paper sizes. A first cutting line that can be cut into, and a second cutting line that can be easily cut while dividing the periphery of a region sectioned by the first cutting line into a substantially frame shape. Printing paper. 2. The printing paper according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cutting lines are formed at perforations. 3. The printing paper according to claim 1, wherein the first cutting line divides the paper surface into equal parts. 4. The printing paper according to claim 1, wherein the second cutting line extends from one end to the other in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction of the paper surface. Printing paper characterized by being formed. 5. The printing paper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second cutting line is a pair of opposite sides of a frame section defined by the second cutting line. Printing paper characterized in that the frame width is formed to be equal. 6. The printing paper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second cutting line is located in a frame portion defined by the second cutting line with respect to the paper feeding direction. The printing paper characterized in that the frame width on the rear side is longer than that on the front side. 7. A printing paper provided with a cutting line that can be cut, wherein the printing paper is provided with a cutting line that divides a peripheral edge of a paper surface into a substantially frame shape and that can easily cut while integrating the divided frame portions. Printing paper characterized by the following. 8. A medium in which a print control program for generating print data and outputting the print data to a printing apparatus so that the image data can be input and printed on a print sheet that can be cut, is provided. An image data inputting step for inputting, a paper information obtaining step for obtaining the paper information of the printing paper, and a paper information obtained in the paper information obtaining step is to set the paper surface to a paper size area printable by the printing apparatus. In the case where the printing paper is provided with a first cutting line for partitioning and a second cutting line for partitioning a periphery of an area partitioned by the first cutting line into a substantially frame shape, printing based on the image data is performed. A print data generating step of generating the print data by arranging an image to be printed in a frame defined by the second cutting line. Medium on which program is recorded. 9. A medium on which the print control program according to claim 8 is recorded, wherein the paper information obtaining step allows a user to select a desired paper size from a plurality of types of paper sizes. In a case where paper information corresponding to the selected paper size is obtained, the printing paper provided with the first and second cutting lines is limited in a paper size selectable by a user. Medium on which control programs are recorded. 10. A medium in which the print control program according to claim 8 or 9 is recorded, wherein the print data generating step includes the step of obtaining the sheet information acquired in the sheet information acquiring step. And a print control program for generating print data according to print characteristics of the print paper when the print paper is provided with a second cutting line. 11. A medium in which the print control program according to claim 8 is recorded,
The print data generating step includes, when arranging a print image based on the image data so as to be printed in a frame sectioned by the second cutting line, between a periphery of the print image and an inner edge of the frame. A medium on which a print control program is recorded, wherein the medium is arranged so that a margin is slightly formed. 12. A medium in which the print control program according to claim 8 is recorded,
In the print data generating step, when arranging a print image based on the image data so as to be printed in a frame sectioned by the second cutting line, the periphery of the print image slightly protrudes into a frame portion. A print control program recorded on a medium. 13. A print medium according to claim 12, wherein said print data generating step arranges a peripheral portion of a print image based on said image data in an expanded manner. Medium on which control programs are recorded. 14. A print control device for generating print data so that it can be printed on cuttable printing paper by inputting image data and outputting the print data to a printing device, wherein the image data for inputting the image data is provided. Input means, paper information obtaining means for obtaining paper information of the printing paper, and paper information obtained by the paper information obtaining means for partitioning a paper surface into an area of a paper size printable by the printing apparatus. When the printing paper is provided with a cutting line and a second cutting line that divides the periphery of an area partitioned by the first cutting line into a substantially frame shape, the print image based on the image data is A print data generating means for generating the print data by arranging the print data in a frame defined by two cutting lines. 15. A print control method for generating print data so that it can be printed on cuttable printing paper by inputting image data and outputting the print data to a printing apparatus, the image data being input with the image data An input step, a paper information obtaining step of obtaining paper information of the printing paper, and a paper information obtained in the paper information obtaining step, wherein the paper information is partitioned into a paper size area printable by the printing apparatus. When the printing paper is provided with a cutting line and a second cutting line that divides the periphery of an area partitioned by the first cutting line into a substantially frame shape, the print image based on the image data is A print data generating step of generating the print data by arranging the print data in a frame sectioned by two cutting lines.