JP2001001574A - Printer and image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and an image processing device that can execute an operation for synthesizing an arbitrary character or a character image with a main image to be printed and executes the operation in low cost and high quality at a high speed. SOLUTION: When printing designation that a character is superposed in a prescribed imaged image recorded on an external recording medium 24 is to be executed, character font information relating to characters to be superposed and data (program or the like) necessary for the operation for the character interposing are recorded in the external recording medium 24 beforehand. When the external recording medium 24 is loaded to a printer, a character information interpreting section 28 and an image data correcting section 30 are formed on a work memory 26 in accordance with the data necessary for the character interposing operation. The character font information is interpreted and the character is synthesized with the image to be printed by the operations of the sections 28, 30 and the image having the superposed character is printed by a printing operation section 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus and an image processing apparatus capable of printing a character image or a character image on a main image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In some cases, it is desired to print an image photographed by a digital camera or the like and recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card on a printing paper by a laboratory or a home printing apparatus. DPOF
The standard called (Digital Print Order Format) allows each image recorded on the recording medium to be recorded on the recording medium as a print order file, such as the number of prints at the time of printing and trimming information. By preparing the print order file in advance using a digital camera or personal computer and recording the print order file on a recording medium, it is possible to eliminate the need to specify the print content when ordering a lab or printing with a printing apparatus. In particular, there is an advantage that even if the printing apparatus does not have an image display function, the print desired by the user can be automatically performed by referring to the print order file.

[0003] In such a DPOF print order file, instructions regarding print contents are described in a determined parameter and format, but a free use area that can be freely used by a vendor is secured as necessary. In this area, each vendor can freely write a parameter or the like for designating a unique printing process.

In recent years, not only simple characters such as a photographing date but also arbitrary characters such as kanji characters are put into a photographed image (main image) photographed by a digital camera or the like, and character information is also printed on the photographic paper together with the photographed image. There is an increasing demand to be able to save in. The print order file also has parameters for designating desired characters. In addition, not only characters but also an image of a desired popular character or the like (hereinafter referred to as a character image) is synthesized with a photographed image, and the use of printing the synthesized image to enjoy is increasing.

[0005] In general, regarding character insertion, font RO
M or a font having a recording medium dedicated to fonts.
CII code) is read from the print order file, for example, and the character code is converted into a character image (character pattern) by font data or the like recorded in a font ROM or the like, so that the character is combined with a photographed image and printed. can do. For printing of characters,
75873, JP-A-5-46148 and the like.

[0006] Even in a printing apparatus having no font data, such as a font ROM, if a character image is incorporated in the main image in advance by using a digital camera or application software of a personal computer, an image in which characters are inserted is printed. It is possible to Regarding the synthesis of the character image, if the character image is previously synthesized with the main image by a personal computer or the like, a printing device having no special function can print the synthesized character image.

[0007]

However, the processing for inserting characters in the main image requires the above-described font ROM or font-specific recording medium to perform the processing. There is a disadvantage that the cost is high to implement.

[0008] Further, even in a printing apparatus having no recording medium such as a font ROM as described above, if a character image is combined with a main image in advance by using a digital camera or application software of a personal computer, characters can be inserted. Images can be printed. However, since characters are generally continuous thin lines, printing a character image and an image other than a character in the same energy band results in insufficient character density and poor character quality. There is. In order to improve this, conventionally, when a character image is combined with a main image, a pixel which is a character is recognized by peripheral pixel sampling, and the printing density of the pixel is higher than that of other pixels. Processing is performed, and the edges of characters are emphasized.
However, even in this case, the peripheral pixel sampling requires a corresponding processing time, and the character cannot be recognized correctly depending on the content of the main image which is the background of the character. Furthermore, when a character image or a character image is combined with a main image by a personal computer or the like, there is a problem that image data of the original main image is damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and enables a printing apparatus to perform a process of synthesizing an arbitrary character or character image with a main image, and realizes this process at low cost and high quality. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and an image processing apparatus capable of performing high-speed printing.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus which prints an image recorded on an external recording medium on a photographic paper together with the image. A data acquisition unit that acquires characters from an external recording medium or another external recording medium on which the image is recorded as character font information, and an image of the characters in the image based on the character font information acquired by the data acquisition unit. And an image printing means for printing an image synthesized by the character synthesizing means.

[0011] The printing apparatus according to claim 2 is
The data acquisition means, together with the character font information,
An image of a character to be combined with an image is obtained as character information, and the image combining means combines the image of the character with the image based on the character information.

Further, the image processing apparatus according to claim 3 is
In an image processing apparatus that performs processing on an image recorded on an external recording medium, a character setting unit that sets the content of a character to be printed together with the image, and the character is set based on the content of the character set by the character setting unit. Character font information recording means for recording the character font information on the external recording medium.

According to the present invention, it is not necessary for the printing apparatus to have in advance data necessary for the processing of synthesizing a character or a character image with the main image. Can be realized. In addition, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, a character to be combined with the main image is acquired as character font information. Therefore, when a character is recognized from an image in which the main image and the character are combined in advance and special processing is performed on the character. It is possible to synthesize and print an image and a character with higher quality and at a higher speed than in the case of.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a printing apparatus and an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, a DPOF (Division) is recorded from an external recording medium such as a memory card (SSFDC or the like) in which a plurality of images are recorded by a digital camera or the like.
The image processing apparatus according to the present invention reads a print order file recorded in accordance with the standards of (Gital Print Order Format) and automatically prints an image designated for printing in accordance with the print content described in the print order file. Is a device that creates the print order file and records it on an external recording medium, and is realized by a digital camera, a personal computer, or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a file structure of an external recording medium used in such a printing apparatus and an image processing apparatus. As shown in the figure, a root directory is created in the external recording medium, and an image directory and an order file directory are created in the root directory. In the image directory, for example, image data of a photographed image (main image) photographed by a digital camera is recorded as an image file. In the example of the figure, two files, an image file 1 and an image file 2, are recorded. Note that the image recorded in the image file is not limited to a photographed image photographed by a digital camera, but the image recorded in the image file is hereinafter referred to as a photographed image (or main image).

On the other hand, in the order file directory, a print order file described according to DPOF is created in the image processing apparatus. The print order file is recorded in a text format on an external recording medium, and its configuration is, as shown in FIG. 2, a print designation area 10 for describing print contents using parameters specified by DPOF, and a vendor freely setting parameters. And the like, and a free usable area 12 in which unique information can be described. In the print designation area 10, for example, the designation of an image file of a photographed image to be printed among image files recorded on an external recording medium, its print type (normal print, index, etc.), and the number of prints are described by predetermined parameters. You. For example, when specifying the number of prints, the parameter PRT
□ QTY is described in a format such as PRT □ QTY = (number of prints).

Further, in the print designation area 10, it is also possible to designate the printing of characters for the photographed image. In this case, the contents of the character are described in the print designation area 10. In the case shown in FIG. 2, image file 1 and image file 2
Is designated, and for the image file 1, a normal print having one print is designated. Although the description of the print type and the number of prints is omitted for the image file 2, for example, as in the case of the image file 1, a normal print with one print is specified and the position of the image file 2 on the image * It is specified that characters “1999 New Year” are inserted into * and ** (** is the value of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate).

On the other hand, the vendor can freely write unique information in the freely usable area 12, and the vendor can freely decide whether or not to create this area. In the present embodiment, information (character font information, character information, image processing information) and the like relating to processes such as character insertion performed on a captured image recorded in an image file and synthesis of character images such as popular characters are described. You.

The information described in the free-use area 12 varies depending on the function of the printing apparatus using the information, but the free-use area 12 is used so that one print order file can be referred to by various printing apparatuses. It is also possible to record a plurality of pieces of information necessary for entering characters, synthesizing character images, and the like in accordance with the functions of each printing apparatus.

Next, the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The printing apparatus described here is capable of printing desired characters in the main image so that printing can be performed. As shown in the figure, this printing apparatus controls the entire system and executes various arithmetic processing. A CPU 20 that performs
A recording medium interface (I / F) 22 for reading and writing files to and from the external recording medium 24 inserted in a predetermined slot; a work memory 26 for temporarily recording processing data of the CPU 20; A load processing unit 32 that reads vendor-specific data (eg, program data) described in a print order file or the like recorded on the medium 24 and expands the data on the work memory 26 to configure a predetermined processing unit; Key 34 for the user to give various instructions to CPU 20
A memory 36 for storing image data such as a photographed image to be printed, a display unit 38 for displaying an image recorded in the memory 36 on a screen, and a printing processing unit 40 for printing the image recorded in the memory 36 on photographic paper. And so on. In addition, the printing system of the printing processing unit 40 includes a TA (thermo-autochrome) system in which the printing paper itself develops color by heat, a sublimation-type thermal transfer system using an ink ribbon, and an ink jet system in which ink droplets are sprayed on the printing paper by nozzles. And so on.

The printing operation of the printing apparatus constructed as described above will be described. When the external recording medium 24 is loaded in a predetermined slot and the automatic printing is designated by the key 34, the CPU 20 firstly starts recording. Medium I / F
The print order file created in the order file directory on the external recording medium 24 is read through the print medium 22. Then, the print designation area 1 described in the print order file
0 (see FIG. 2), the following processing is executed.

This process will be described with reference to the description example of the print order file shown in FIG. 2. In the print designation area 10 of the print order file, it is described that the normal print of one image is performed for the image file 1. Therefore, the CPU 20 transfers the image data of the image file 1 from the image directory of the external recording medium 24 to the recording medium I / O.
F22, and reads the image data into the memory 36.
To be stored. Since the image data is usually compressed and recorded on the external recording medium 24, the CPU 20 performs processing such as expanding the image data and restoring the original image data.

Subsequently, the CPU 20 makes the print processing unit 40
The execution of the printing process for the number of sheets is instructed. As a result, the printing processing unit 40 executes the printing process based on the image data recorded in the memory 36, and prints one image on photographic paper.

When the printing of the photographed image recorded in the image file 1 is completed, next, in the printing designation area 10 of the printing order file, the characters “1999 New Year” are placed at the positions ** and ** with respect to the image file 2. Since it is described that characters are to be printed, the CPU 20 reads the image data of the image file 2 from the image directory of the external recording medium 24 and stores the image data in the memory 36.

Next, the CPU 20 sets the print designation area 10
Since the input of characters is specified, the data for interpreting the character font information (program data and the like) and the data for correcting the image data (program data and the like) are externally recorded by the processing of the load processing unit 32. Read from medium 24. These data are recorded on the external recording medium 24 in the free-use area 12 of the print order file or a predetermined file other than the print order file. After reading these data, the CPU 20 develops the data in the work memory 26 and configures the character information interpretation unit 28 and the image data correction unit 30 on the work memory 26. Note that the character information interpreting unit 28 and the image data correcting unit 30 represent the processing performed by the CPU 20 by the program developed on the work memory 26 on the work memory 26 as the processing of these processing units 28 and 30. .

Next, the character information interpreting section 28 configured on the work memory 26 in this manner reads the character font information described in the freely usable area 12 of the print order file. The character font information is information for converting a character code into a character image (character pattern) or information representing a character image with a predetermined code. For example, the image X coordinate, the image Y coordinate, the number of dots, R , G, B are represented by run-length codes. This run-length code is used to decompose a dot on which a character image is synthesized into continuous dots of the same color in the X direction on the X and Y coordinates of a captured image to be filled with characters, and to determine the start point of each continuous dot. To X
The length of a continuous dot represented by coordinates and the Y coordinate is represented by the number of dots, and the color is represented by R, G, B gradation values.

The character font information is based on the character code (character dot) for each character to be inserted.
It may be conversion data for converting into.

The character information interpreting section 28 interprets the contents of the character font information (run-length code) and combines the dot position at which the image of the character is synthesized with the photographed image to be printed (the image of the image file 2) and the dot position. R, G, and B gradation values are set.

Subsequently, based on the result obtained by the character information interpreting section 28, the image data correcting section 30 converts the image data of the image file 2 stored in the memory 36 into a dot for displaying a character image. The R, G, and B tone values are replaced with R, G, and B tone values for displaying the image of the character, and image data of the photographed image in which the characters are inserted is generated. Then, the image data is recorded in the memory 36. The image data correction unit 30 can perform not only simple synthesis of a captured image and a character but also advanced processing such as emphasizing the outline of the character to clarify the distinction from the background image.

When the above processing is completed, the CPU 20
In the same manner as when the image of the image file 1 is printed, the print processing unit 40 is instructed to execute printing, and the printing of the shot image (the shot image with characters) recorded in the memory 36 is executed.

According to the printing apparatus of the first embodiment described above, the character font information relating to the character to be inserted and the data necessary for interpreting the contents of the character font information and performing the character insertion process are externally provided. By recording on the recording medium 24, the printing apparatus itself does not need to previously hold font data, program data, and the like for performing character insertion processing. In comparison with this, no special change in the configuration is required, and there is no problem that the manufacturing cost is increased. Also, compared to the case where an image in which characters are inserted in advance is acquired from an external recording medium and printed, the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment can recognize characters to be inserted in addition to the main image. A process for recognizing characters in the middle is unnecessary, and a high-quality and high-speed character-inserted image can be printed.

Next, characters other than characters (character images) can be combined with the photographed image recorded in the image file of the external recording medium 24, and desired image processing can be performed on the photographed image. A printing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus. Components having the same or similar functions as those of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3, and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of the printing apparatus includes an image recognizing unit 50, a character information / image processing information interpreting unit 52 (hereinafter referred to as an interpreting unit 52), and an image data correcting unit 54 which are configured in the work memory 26. Except for this, the configuration is exactly the same as the printing apparatus of FIG.

The image recognition unit 50, the interpretation unit 52, and the image data correction unit 54 can freely use the print order file on the external recording medium 24, like the character information interpretation unit 28 and the image data correction unit 30 in FIG. Data (eg, program data) recorded in the area 12 or a predetermined file other than the print order file is read by the load processing unit 32 and is a processing unit configured on the work memory 26. , 52, 54 are configured as needed.

The operation in the case of performing character image synthesis and image processing in this printing apparatus will be described. The CPU 20 prints a print order file on the external recording medium 24 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The image data of the photographed image to be printed next is read from the image file according to the description contents of the designated area 10, and the image data is recorded in the memory 36. Then, in the free-use area 12 of the print order file, when the combination of the character image or the image processing for the captured image of the image file is designated, the load processing unit 32 causes the image recognition unit 50 to interpret the image. The work memory 26 includes the unit 52 and the image data correction unit 54.

Next, the interpretation unit 52 configured on the work memory 26 in this manner acquires the character information or the image processing information recorded in the freely usable area of the print order file, and interprets the contents. .

The contents of the character information include the shape and size of the character image, the combination position, sharpness, color,
Brightness, the name of the file in which the character image is recorded, and the like are shown in FIG. 5, one example of which is shown. In the example shown in the figure, designation when the composite shape of the character image is a circle and designation when the composite shape is a square are shown, and when the composite shape is a circle, the center position (central pixels X and Y) and A radius is specified, and a synthesis position, sharpness, hue, brightness, a character image file name, and the like are specified. When the composite shape is a rectangle, the length of the vertical and horizontal sides of the image size is specified, and the composite position, sharpness, hue, brightness, the file name of the character image, and the like are specified.

When such character information is described in the freely usable area 12 of the print order file,
When the interpretation unit 52 interprets the content of the character information,
Based on this, the image data correction unit 54 reads the image data of the character image from the file specified by the character information, and stores the character image in the memory 36 based on the content such as the shape and size specified by the character information. The image is synthesized with the captured image recorded in. Then, the image data of the synthesized image is recorded in the memory 36.

The image processing information described in the freely usable area 12 of the print order file indicates the contents of image processing to be performed on a predetermined range of the photographed image to be printed. Designation to apply beautiful skin treatment,
Or, a certain region of the captured image is a woman's bust, so designation to apply bust-up processing to that region, or
Since a certain region of the photographed image is an identification photograph, a designation of performing a left-right symmetric process on the region is described in the image processing information. FIG. 6 shows the description contents of the image processing information in the case of performing the beautiful skin processing and the processing of the left and right objects. The description contents are a processing type for designating each processing content and a processing of the processing type. And the range to be applied.

In the case where such image processing information is described in the free-use area 12 of the print order file, when the interpreting section 52 interprets the contents of the image processing information, the image recognizing section 50 based on the interpreted information. Recognizes an image in an area where image processing is performed on a captured image recorded in the memory 36. For example, when the beautiful skin processing is designated, the color and brightness of the part close to the skin color are recognized from the limited area in the captured image where the beautiful skin processing is to be performed. When the processing of the left and right target is specified, the center line is obtained based on the captured image of the limited area where the processing is performed. When the bust-up process is specified, a high-luminance portion is detected from a limited region in the captured image where the process is to be performed.

Next, the image data correction section 54 processes the image data of the photographed image recorded in the memory 36 based on the recognition result of the image recognition section 50. For example, in the case where the beautiful skin process is designated, the color and brightness of a portion close to the skin color recognized by the image recognition unit 50 are changed.
When the processing of the left and right target is specified, the image recognition unit 50
The image data is changed so that one side of the image is folded back with respect to the center line recognized by the above. When the bust-up process is designated, the image data is changed so that the high-luminance portion recognized by the image recognition unit 50 has a higher luminance. The image data correction unit 54 performs image processing on the captured image recorded in the memory 36 in this manner, and records the image data in the memory 36.

When the above processing is completed, the CPU 20
It instructs the printing processing unit 40 to execute printing, and causes the printing of the image recorded in the memory 36 to be executed.

According to the printing apparatus of the second embodiment described above, the character information relating to the character image and the data necessary for the process of interpreting the contents of the character information and synthesizing the character image or the image processing are provided. By pre-recording the image processing information and the data necessary for the processing of performing the image processing by interpreting the contents of the image processing information in the external recording medium 24, the printing apparatus itself performs the processing. Since it is not necessary to hold program data and the like, there is no need for a special change in configuration as compared with a printing apparatus that does not have a function of performing these processes, and there is no problem that manufacturing costs are increased. In addition, by performing image processing as described above on a printing device rather than on a general image processing application such as a personal computer, it is possible to perform image correction such as sharpness and hue of a character image separately from a main image of a background. In addition, the character image itself is a square, but it can be synthesized in a somewhat free shape without modifying the character image, and furthermore, the important original image can be stored as it is. There are advantages.

As described above, the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment can perform a character insertion process on a main image.
In the printing apparatus of the second embodiment, the processing of synthesizing the character image and the image processing can be performed on the main image. However, the processing in the first embodiment and the processing in the second embodiment is one.
Of course, it is also possible to make it possible to use only one printing device.

In the first and second embodiments, the character information interpreting section 28, the image data correcting sections 30 and 54, the image recognizing section 50,
The character information / image processing information interpreting unit 52 is configured to include predetermined data recorded on the same external recording medium 24 as the image data. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Some functions may be pre-installed in the printing apparatus, or data constituting all or a part of these processing units may be transferred from a medium other than the external recording medium 24 on which image data is recorded. You may make it acquire. FIG. 7 shows an example of a printing apparatus capable of performing both the above-described character insertion processing and the processing of synthesizing and processing an image of a character. The image recognition unit 50 shown in the second embodiment is shown in FIG. , And character information, character information, and image processing information interpretation corresponding to the character information interpretation unit 28 and the character information / image processing information interpretation unit 52 shown in the first and second embodiments. Unit 66 and an image data correction unit 68 corresponding to the image data correction units 30 and 54 described in the first and second embodiments, and the external storage medium 24 on which image data is recorded.
3 shows data acquired from an external recording medium 60 other than the above, and a case where the data is constituted by a ROM or the like mounted on a printing apparatus. In the drawing, the external recording medium 24 and the external recording medium 60 are identified by the recording media 1 and 2.

According to this, the image recognizing section 64, the character information / character information / image processing information interpreting section 66, and the image data correcting section 68 are constituted by the memory 62 comprising a ROM and a work memory. It should be noted that reading of required data from the external recording medium 24 and the external recording medium 60 may be performed by replacing the external recording medium 24 and the external recording medium 60 with the same slot, or may be simultaneously loaded into separate slots. It may be performed afterwards.

Next, an image processing apparatus for creating data such as a print order file used in the printing apparatus described in the above embodiment will be described. First, the procedure for creating the data will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8A, for example, in the case of specifying the characters “1999 New Year” in the captured image, the user needs to specify FIG.
The necessary information such as the character content and display position is edited by an image processing device such as a personal computer or a digital camera shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus creates a print order file in which the above-described character font information and the like are described according to the editing contents as shown in FIG. 8C, and stores the print order file in a recording medium on which an image file of a captured image is recorded. Record in 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, the image processing apparatus selects data necessary for causing the printing apparatus to perform the printing process specified by the printing order file simultaneously with the creation and recording of the printing order file. At the same time (step S10), the selected data is loaded from the predetermined recording medium 2 (step S12). Then, the loaded data is recorded on the recording medium 1 on which the image file is recorded (Step S14).

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus. As shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus controls the entire system and executes various arithmetic processing, and an external recording medium 24 (recording medium 1) or an external recording medium 114 loaded in a predetermined slot.
Recording medium interface (I / F) 102 for reading and writing files to and from (recording medium 2)
And a key and pointing device 104 for the user to give various instructions to the CPU 100, a memory 106 for storing image data, a display unit 108 for displaying images recorded in the memory 106 on a monitor, and creating a print order file. A printer print order file creating unit 110, the above-described character information interpreting unit 28, image data correcting units 30, 5
4. For a printer that selects data necessary for configuring processing units such as an image recognition unit 50 and a character information / image processing information interpretation unit 52 from printer data recorded on an external recording medium 114 (recording medium 2). Required data selection unit 11
And 2.

The operation of the image processing apparatus will be described by taking as an example a case where a print in which characters are added to a photographed image is designated.
CPU 100 is a key and pointing device 1 for the user.
In accordance with the operation 04, the image data of the image to be inserted is read out from the image file recorded on the external recording medium 24 (recording medium 1) via the recording medium I / F 102.
Then, the image data is recorded in the memory 106, and the image is displayed on the display unit 108. Next, the user designates an arbitrary character at an arbitrary position of the image using the key and the pointing device 104. Then, the printer print order file creating unit 110 writes the image file and information such as the designation of character insertion in the print designation area 10 as shown in FIG. The unique information is described in the freely usable area 12, and a print order file is created. The created print order file is recorded in a predetermined directory (order file directory) of the external recording medium 24.

The necessary data selection section 112 for the printer
Is obtained from the printer data 116, 118, and 120 recorded on the external recording medium 114 (recording medium 2), when the printing apparatus performs the character insertion processing, the unique information necessary for the interpretation and synthesis of the characters. (Such as a program), and the data is recorded on the same external recording medium 24 as the image data. This printer data 116, 1
Reference numerals 18 and 120 denote image recognition units 50 and 64, character information interpretation unit 28, character information / image processing information interpretation unit 52, character information / character information / image processing information interpretation unit 66, and image data described in the above embodiment. Correction units 30, 54,
These data are necessary to configure a processing unit such as the image data correction unit 68, and it is assumed that these printer data are supplied in advance from the printing apparatus. The above description is for the case of performing a character insertion process, but the other image processing is basically the same as that of the present embodiment, except that a file in which a character image is recorded is selected or an image processing range is specified.

[0052]

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is not necessary for the printing apparatus to previously possess data necessary for the processing for synthesizing a character image or a character image with the main image. Therefore, these processes can be realized by a low-cost printing apparatus. Further, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, in order to acquire a character or a character image to be combined with the main image as character font information or character information, the image and the character or the image or the character image are combined with high-quality and high-speed printing. can do. That is, it is possible to eliminate the time required for character recognition and sampling correction by sampling all pixels around the image, which has been conventionally performed to obtain high character quality, and to separate from other areas by original encryption and area designation. Special image processing can be performed at high speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a file configuration of an external recording medium used in a printing apparatus and an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a print order file.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of description contents of character information;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of description contents of image processing information;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printing apparatus capable of performing both character insertion processing and character image synthesis and image processing.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram used for explaining input of character font information and the like;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram used for explaining input of character font information and the like;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 CPU, 24, 60 external recording medium, 26 work memory, 28 character information interpreter, 30, 54 image data corrector, 32 load processor, 34 key, 36
Memory, 40 ... print processing unit, 50 ... image recognition unit, 52 ...
Character information / image processing information interpreter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for printing an image recorded on an external recording medium on photographic paper, wherein a character to be printed together with the image is used as character font information from an external recording medium or another external recording medium on which the image is recorded. Data acquisition means for acquiring, image combining means for combining the image of the character with the image based on the character font information acquired by the data acquisition means, and image printing for printing the image combined by the character combining means Means, and a printing apparatus. 2. The data acquiring means acquires an image of a character to be combined with an image as character information together with the character font information, and the image combining means adds the character image to the image based on the character information. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing is performed. 3. An image processing apparatus for processing an image recorded on an external recording medium, comprising: a character setting unit for setting the contents of a character to be printed together with the image; And a character font information recording means for recording the character as character font information on the external recording medium. 4. A recording medium on which a plurality of image files containing images and a print order file designating the content of a printing process at the time of printing are recorded, wherein in a free-use area of the print order file, A recording medium wherein characters to be combined with an image to be printed are described as character font information.