JP2001016472A - Image processor and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an effect being equivalent to that on a desired color sheet of paper by synthesizing image information on a desired background color by means of a synthetic function through the use of a color image processor. SOLUTION: In an image processor for executing prescribed processing based on input image data, the background color and the printing color of image information to be printed are designated by a host device 112 or 114 or a panel device 110 so that image information converted into the one with the designated printing color is synthesized on the designated background color in a controller 100. Besides, synthesized image information is outputted by printing by a printer engine 108.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for superimposing image information on a background color in a printing color different from the background color, and an image forming apparatus for forming image information from the image processing apparatus on paper. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers, form data such as created ruled lines and frames are developed in a designated color, and combined with document data to be printed and printed. Printing black and white document data to be printed in a designated color is disclosed, for example, in JP-A-8-1977.
No. 80 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-277645.

On the other hand, with the development of color image processing technology,
A color image can be obtained very easily and inexpensively, and a color image can be formed on a desired color paper different from the original.

[0004]

When printing black and white document data in a designated color as described above, different background colors may be required depending on the user. Colored paper must be prepared.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the prior art, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus capable of forming an image on a desired background color without preparing colored paper. And an image forming apparatus using the image forming apparatus.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a first means is an image processing apparatus for performing a predetermined process based on input image data, comprising: a background color designating means for designating a background color; A print color designating means for designating a print color of image information to be printed; a print color converting means for converting the image information to be printed into a print color designated by the print color designating means; and a designation by the background color designating means. Control means for controlling to synthesize the image information converted into the print color designated by the print color conversion means on the set background color, thereby providing the desired print color on the desired background color. Can synthesize image information.

The second means controls the control means in the first means so that, when processing is performed on a plurality of screens, only the first screen has a designated background color. Only the page can have a different background color, and can be identified as a cover or table of contents page.

A third means is an image processing apparatus which performs a predetermined process based on input image data. A background color designating means for designating a plurality of kinds of background colors, and a plurality of kinds of printing colors of image information to be printed. A print color designating means for designating, a print color converting means for converting the image information to be printed into a plurality of types of print colors designated by the print color designating means, a first screen when processing on a plurality of screens The first background color and the first printing color are set on the second and subsequent screens so that the first background color and the first printing color are set to different background colors and printing colors, respectively. A control means is provided for controlling, for example, the background color and the printing color are different between the first page and the second page, and both can be clearly identified.

A fourth means is an image processing apparatus for performing a predetermined process based on input image data, a background color specifying means for specifying a plurality of types of background colors, and a plurality of types of printing colors of image information to be printed. A print color designating means for designating, a print color converting means for converting the image information to be printed into a plurality of types of print colors, and a first background color designated on the first screen when processing is performed on a plurality of screens. Control is performed so as to select the most visible print color for the background color if the background color of that screen is different from the first background color on the second and subsequent screens. Since the image is processed in a print color that is most visible with respect to the background color, image information can be easily read. Further, the screen of the next page also has a different background color, so that it is possible to easily determine that the screen has changed.

The fifth means includes a printing means for printing image information including a background color and a printing color output from the image processing device in the first to fourth means, so that the desired information can be printed on a desired background color. The image information can be synthesized with the print color of, or a different print mode can be adopted for each sheet so that the background color of only the first page can be distinguished as a cover page or a table of contents page.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

The printer includes a controller 100 as an image processing apparatus, and a panel device 1 for notifying a user of a current printer state and specifying a mode.
10 and first and second host devices (host device 1 and host device 2) 112 and 11 which are higher-level devices of the printer.
4 and a printer engine 108 that actually performs printing.

The controller 100 controls the entire controller 100 according to a program from a program ROM (Prog.ROM) 104 to be described later, a mode designation from the panel device 110, and commands from the first and second host devices 112 and 114. CPU 101 as a central processing unit
And font data and programs supplied from outside
A C card (IC card) 102 is provided. The controller 100 includes, as storage devices, an NVRAM 103 which is a non-volatile storage device for storing the contents of a mode instruction from the panel device 110, and a program ROM 10 storing a control program of the controller 100.
4. Font ROM for storing font patterns, etc.
(Font ROM) 105 and a RAM 106 used as a work memory for the CPU 101, an input buffer for input data, a memory for download fonts, and the like.

The controller 100 also includes a printer engine interface (Engine I / F) for communicating commands and status with the printer engine 108 and print data, and a panel for communicating command and status with the panel device 110. Interface (Panel I / F) 109 and host devices 112 and 11
4 communicates with the host interface (Host
Interfaces such as (I / F) 111 and 113 are provided. The host interfaces 111 and 113 are usually a Centronics interface which is a parallel interface for a printer, or an RS-232C which is a reference interface for serial data transmission. In addition, the host devices 112 and 114 may be a network such as Ethernet or local talk. Is connected to The printer engine 108 that performs printing includes two paper output trays 108.
a, 108b are provided.

The operation of the printer constructed as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a background color and a printing color are designated. When specifying the background color and the print color, first, as shown in FIG.
Panel device 110 or host device 112 or 11
4 specifies the background color with the command from controller 4
0 is stored as background color data (step 20).
1). On the other hand, the print color is also specified by a command from the panel device 110 or the host devices 112 and 114, and is stored in the controller 100 as print color data (step 202). When the background color and the printing color are designated, a frame memory for one page is secured in the controller 100, and the frame memory is painted with the designated background color (step 203). Next, the color print data sent from the host device 112 or 114 is developed in the designated color on the frame memory filled with the designated background color, and output to the printer engine 108 (step 204).

Based on the data output from the controller 100 as described above, the printer engine 10
Reference numeral 8 draws a sheet from the sheet discharge tray 108a or 108b, and prints the sheet.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the background color is made different between the first page and the second and subsequent pages, and the printing color is printed in a preset color irrespective of the page. In this process, first, the panel device 110,
The background color of the first page is designated by a command from one of the host devices 112 and 114 and stored as background color data of the first page in the controller 100 (step 301). Next, the panel device 110 and the host device 1
The background color of the second page and subsequent pages is designated by a command from one of 12 and 114, and stored as background color data of the second page and subsequent pages in the controller 100 (step 3).
02). On the other hand, as for the printing color, the printing color of the first page is designated based on a command from one of the panel device 110 and the host devices 112 and 114, and the controller 1
00 is stored as print color data of the first page (step 303). Regarding the print colors of the second and subsequent pages, the print colors of the second and subsequent pages are designated by a command from the panel device 110 or the host device 112 or 114, and are stored in the controller 100 as the print color data of the second and subsequent pages ( Step 304).

After designating the background color and the printing color in this way, a frame memory for one page is secured in the controller 100, and the frame memory is filled with the background color of the first page (step 305). Next, the host device 1
The color print data sent from the printer 12 or 114 is developed in the color designated as the print color of the first page on the frame memory filled in step 305 and output to the printer engine 108 (step 306). 2
For the pages after the page, a frame memory for one page is secured in the controller 100, and the frame memory is filled with the background color of the second and subsequent pages (step 307). Finally, the color print data sent from the host device 112 or 114 is developed in the color designated as the print color for the second and subsequent pages on the frame memory filled in step 307 and output to the printer engine 108. (Step 308). As a result, the background color differs between the first page and the second and subsequent pages, but the printing color can be printed in the designated unified color throughout each page.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the background color is changed between the first page and the second and subsequent pages, and the printing color is changed in accordance with the background color. In this processing, first, a command from one of the panel device 110 and the host devices 112 and 114 causes
Specify the background color of the page, and
The AM 106 stores the background color data of the first page (step 401). Next, the CPU 101 in the controller 100 calculates the most visible color for the background color of the first page, and sets it as the printing color of the first page in RAM.
Stored in 106 (step 402). Next, the background color of the second and subsequent pages is designated by a command from one of the panel device 110 and the host devices 112 and 114, and the RAM 1
06 is stored as background color data for the second and subsequent pages (step 403). On the other hand, with respect to the print colors of the second and subsequent pages, the CPU 101 calculates the most visible color for the background color of the second and subsequent pages, and stores the calculated colors in the RAM 106 as the print colors of the second and subsequent pages (step 404).

In this way, the background color and the printing color of the first page and the background color and the printing color of the second and subsequent pages are designated and set, and then the frame memory for one page is secured in the controller 100. The frame memory is painted with the background color of the first page (step 405). Next, the color print data sent from the host device 112 or 114 is developed in the color designated as the print color of the first page on the frame memory filled in step 405 and output to the printer engine 108 ( Step 40
6). For the second and subsequent pages, a frame memory for one page is secured in the controller 100, and the frame memory is filled with the background color of the second and subsequent pages (step 40).
7). Finally, the color print data sent from the host device 112 or 114 is developed in the color designated as the print color for the second and subsequent pages on the frame memory filled in step 407 and output to the printer engine 108. (Step 408). Thus, under the different background colors for the first page and the second and subsequent pages, it is possible to print the background color in the most visible color.

In the above description of each processing operation, the method of designating the background color or print color is determined by the host device 112 or 11.
In the case of step 4, it may be performed in the properties of the printer driver. In this case, the host device 112 or 114
The user can specify the actual color while viewing the screen. The color specified here is sent to the printer engine 108 of the printer together with the print data as a command. On the other hand, the specification of the background color and the like may be performed by the panel device 110, and the color information may be obtained by using the CMYK data of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black held by the panel device 110.
Red, green, and blue RGB data and other types of data may be used.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the print color is converted into the print color specified by the print color conversion means on the background color specified by the background color specification means. Since the combined image information is combined, the image information can be combined with a desired printing color on a desired background color.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when processing is performed on a plurality of screens, control is performed so that only the first screen has a designated background color. Can be identified as a cover or table of contents page, the first page and the second page
The operation can be performed by one operation without dividing the operation after the page twice.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when processing is performed on a plurality of screens, the first background color and the first print color are set on the first screen, and the first background color and the first print color are set on the second and subsequent screens. Since the first background color and the first printing color are set to different background colors and printing colors, respectively, for example, the background color and the printing color are different between the first page and the second page, so that both can be clearly identified. The setting need not be performed separately for the first page and the second and subsequent pages, and the operation is simple.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print color conversion means for converting image information to be printed into a plurality of types of print colors, and, when processing is performed on a plurality of screens, the first screen designated as the first screen. In the second and subsequent screens, if the background color of the screen is different from the first background color, the most visible print color is selected for the background color of the first background color. Since the image is processed with the print color that is most visible to the background color, the image information is easy to read, and the next page has a different background color, so it is easy to change the screen. Can be determined.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since there is provided a printing means for printing image information including a background color and a printing color outputted from the image processing apparatus, a desired printing color is provided on a desired background color. To print the image information so that only the first page has a different background color so that it can be identified as a cover page or a page of a table of contents, or can be printed in a print color that is the most visible to the background color.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation when a background color and a printing color are designated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation when a background color is different between a first page and a second and subsequent pages, and printing is performed in a printing color set in advance.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation when a background color is made different between a first page and a second and subsequent pages, and a printing color is also changed according to the background color.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Controller 101 CPU 103 NVRAM 104 Program ROM 105 Font ROM 106 RAM 108 Printer Engine 110 Panel Device 112, 114 Host Device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B057 AA11 BA25 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB06 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CC03 CE08 CE17 CH11 CH18 5C077 LL20 MP06 MP08 PP23 PP31 PP66 PQ08 PQ22 SS05 TT02 TT06

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing based on input image data, comprising: a background color designating unit for designating a background color; a print color designating unit for designating a print color of image information to be printed; A print color conversion unit that converts image information to be printed into a print color specified by the print color specification unit; and a print color specified by the print color conversion unit on a background color specified by the background color specification unit. Control means for synthesizing the image information converted into the image information. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when processing is performed on a plurality of screens, the control unit sets only a first screen to a designated background color. 3. An image processing apparatus for performing a predetermined process based on input image data, a background color specifying means for specifying a plurality of types of background colors, and a printing color for specifying a plurality of types of printing colors of image information to be printed. Designation means; print color conversion means for converting the image information to be printed into a plurality of types of print colors designated by the print color designation means;
Control for setting the background color and the first printing color of the first background color and the second and subsequent screens so that the background color and the printing color are different from the first background color and the first printing color, respectively. And an image processing apparatus. 4. An image processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing based on input image data, a background color specifying means for specifying a plurality of types of background colors, and a printing color for specifying a plurality of types of printing colors of image information to be printed. Designating means; print color converting means for converting the image information to be printed into a plurality of types of print colors; when processing is performed on a plurality of screens, the first background color designated on the first screen is most visible. A control means for selecting a printing color and, when the background color of the screen is different from the first background color on the second and subsequent screens, controlling to select a printing color which is most visible for the background color; An image processing apparatus comprising: 5. An image forming apparatus comprising: printing means for printing image information including a background color and a printing color output from the image processing apparatus according to claim 1. Description: .