JP2002112013A - Print image creating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print image creating device which can clearly show an overlapped transparent bit map if a base image is dense in color. SOLUTION: This print image creating device is used to process a printer driver which creates a print image data to be sent to a printer, and to overlap a transparent image on the print image and create an image data to be sent to the printer through which the print image can be seen artificially. In this case, in the case when the RGB value of a base bit map exceeds a specified value, a transparent image to be overlapped on the base bit map is created by raster operation of bit map. On the other hand, in the case when it does not exceed the specified value, a transparent image is created by overlapping a bit map of mesh image (colored with a specified interval of dot) to be overlapped on the base bit map.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print image creating apparatus, and more particularly, to a print image creating apparatus applied to a printer and generating a bitmap of a watermark image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been provided a print image creating apparatus for generating a bitmap in which another bitmap such as a character bitmap is superimposed on a bitmap to show the underlying bitmap transparently.

[0003]

However, when the underlying print image is dark, if a light color bitmap is superimposed,
In the conventional method of generating a watermark image subjected to a raster operation (AND), a bitmap of a superimposed watermark becomes difficult to understand. Also, depending on the method of implementing the watermark, the image of the watermark differs depending on the color of the underlying image, which may confuse the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a first object of the present invention to provide a print image creating apparatus in which a superimposed watermark bitmap can be clearly seen even when the color of a base image is dark. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a print image creating apparatus that prevents a user from being confused by different watermark images depending on the color of a base image.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, another bitmap such as a character bitmap is superimposed on a bitmap to generate a bitmap that allows the underlying bitmap to be seen through. An image creating apparatus, which uses the color (RGB value) of a base bitmap
A first method of generating a watermark image by raster operation (AND) of a bitmap to be overlapped with a base bitmap, and a bitmap of a mesh image (colored at a fixed dot interval) to be overlapped on the base bitmap To generate a watermark image by
The first object is achieved by providing a selecting means for automatically selecting any one of the above methods, and a generating means for generating a bitmap of a watermark to be sent to a printer by the method selected by the selecting means. I do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print image creating apparatus for generating a bitmap in which another bitmap such as a character bitmap is superimposed on a bitmap to show the underlying bitmap transparently. According to the color (RGB value) of the base bitmap, a raster operation (AN
A first method of generating a watermark image according to D) and a raster operation (AN) in which a color in an overlapping range within the range of the background bitmap is changed to a gray value in advance and the bitmap to be overlapped with the background bitmap having the changed color are rasterized
Selecting means for automatically selecting any one of the third method of performing D), generating means for generating a bitmap of a watermark to be sent to the printer by the method selected by the selecting means,
The above-mentioned first and second objects are achieved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print image creating apparatus for generating a bitmap in which another bitmap such as a character bitmap is superimposed on the bitmap to show the underlying bitmap through. According to the color (RGB value) of the base bitmap, a raster operation (AN
Selecting means for automatically selecting one of a first method of generating a watermark image according to D) and a second method of automatically moving a superimposed bitmap to a position that does not overlap a background bitmap; The first object is achieved by providing a generating means for generating a bitmap of a watermark to be sent to the printer by the method selected by the selecting means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the print image creating apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect, the selection means includes an RGB of a base bitmap.
The first method is selected when the value exceeds a predetermined value registered in advance, and another method is selected when the value does not exceed the predetermined value.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a print image creating apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. (A) First Embodiment A first embodiment corresponds to claim 1. The print image creation device according to the present embodiment performs a process of a printer driver that generates print image data to be sent to a printer,
This is an apparatus for generating image data to be sent to a printer for pseudo-watermarking a print image by superimposing a watermark image on the print image.

The operation flow of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the printing apparatus obtains the coordinate position and range of the watermark image (step (1)). Next, it is determined whether or not the print image exists under the watermark image obtained in step (1) and overlaps (step (2)).

If the print image does not overlap the watermark image (step (2); N), the process proceeds to step (7) to transfer the print image to the printer. On the other hand, when the print image overlaps the watermark image (step (2); Y), the RGB values of the underlying print image are obtained (step (3)).

Next, it is determined whether or not the obtained RGB values of the underlying print image exceed a certain value (step (4)). Here, a constant value of RGB as a criterion is registered in advance, and it is determined whether the RGB value obtained in step (3) exceeds the registered constant value.

If it is determined in step (4) that the RGB value exceeds the upper limit (a fixed value) (Y), a watermark character is generated as an image of a mesh pattern and is superimposed on a print image (step (5)). )). On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the RGB values are below the upper limit (N), the raster operation (A) of the watermark character image and the background image is performed.
ND) to generate a superimposed image (step (6)).

Then, the image data generated in step (5) or step (6) is transmitted to the printer (step (7)), and the process ends.

(B) Second Embodiment The second embodiment corresponds to claim 2. The print image creating apparatus according to the present embodiment performs a process of a printer driver that generates print image data to be sent to a printer, and superimposes a watermark image on the print image to a printer for pseudo-watermarking the print image. This is a device that generates image data to be sent.

An operation flow of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
First, the printing apparatus obtains the coordinate position and range of the watermark image (step (1)). Next, it is determined whether or not the print image exists under the watermark image obtained in step (1) and overlaps (step (2)).

If the print image does not overlap the watermark image (step (2); N), the process proceeds to step (7) to transfer the print image to the printer. On the other hand, when the print image overlaps the watermark image (step (2); Y), the RGB values of the underlying print image are obtained (step (3)).

Next, it is determined whether or not the obtained RGB value of the underlying print image exceeds a certain value (step (4)). Here, a constant value of RGB as a criterion is registered in advance, and it is determined whether the RGB value obtained in step (3) exceeds the registered constant value.

If it is determined in step (4) that the RGB value exceeds the upper limit value (constant value) (Y), the part of the background image that overlaps the watermark image is changed in color by the gray value (step (4)). 5)).

After the process of step (5), and when the RGB value is below the upper limit value (; N) in the determination of step (4), the raster operation (AND) of the watermark character image and the background image is performed. To generate a superimposed image (step (6)). Then, the image data generated in step (6) is transmitted to the printer (step (7)), and the process ends.

(C) 32nd Embodiment The third embodiment corresponds to claim 3. The print image creating apparatus according to the present embodiment performs a process of a printer driver that generates print image data to be sent to a printer, and automatically shifts the position of the watermark image (when the watermark image overlaps the print image) (To a position that does not overlap the image) and an image data to be sent to the printer.

The operation flow of the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the printing apparatus obtains the coordinate position and range of the watermark image (step (1)). Next, it is determined whether or not the print image exists under the watermark image obtained in step (1) and overlaps (step (2)).

If the print image does not overlap the watermark image (step (2); N), the process proceeds to step (7) to transfer the print image to the printer. On the other hand, when the print image overlaps the watermark image (step (2); Y), the RGB values of the underlying print image are obtained (step (3)).

Next, it is determined whether or not the obtained RGB value of the underlying print image exceeds a certain value (step (4)). Here, a constant value of RGB as a criterion is registered in advance, and it is determined whether the RGB value obtained in step (3) exceeds the registered constant value.

If it is determined in step (4) that the RGB values exceed the upper limit (a fixed value) (Y), the watermark image is moved to a coordinate position that does not overlap the background image. On the other hand, if the value of RGB is smaller than the upper limit value (; N) in the determination of step (4), a raster operation (AND) of the watermark character image and the base image is performed to generate a superimposed image (step (4)). 6)).

Then, the image data generated in step (5) or step (6) is transmitted to the printer (step (7)), and the process ends.

[0027]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a print image creating apparatus in which the superimposed watermark bitmap can be clearly seen even when the color of the background image is dark.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a print image creating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a print image creating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a print image creating apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print image creating apparatus for generating a bitmap that overlays another bitmap, such as a character bitmap, on a bitmap and shows the underlying bitmap transparently. (RGB value), a first method of generating a watermark image by raster operation (AND) of a bitmap to be superimposed on a background bitmap, and a mesh image (colored at a fixed dot interval) superimposed on the background bitmap A) automatically selecting a second method of generating a watermark image by superimposing a bitmap, and generating a bitmap of a watermark to be sent to a printer by the method selected by the selecting means. Means for producing a print image. 2. A print image creating apparatus for overlaying another bitmap, such as a character bitmap, on a bitmap to generate a bitmap that shows through the underlying bitmap, wherein the color of the underlying bitmap is (RGB value), a first method of generating a watermark image by a raster operation (AND) of a bitmap to be overlapped with a background bitmap, and changing a color of a range overlapping within the range of the background bitmap to a gray value in advance, Selecting means for automatically selecting one of a third method of performing a raster operation (AND) on a bitmap to be superimposed on the base bitmap whose color has been changed; and a watermark to be sent to the printer by the method selected by the selecting means. Generating means for generating a bitmap of a print image. . 3. A print image creating apparatus for overlaying another bitmap, such as a character bitmap, on a bitmap to generate a bitmap that shows through the underlying bitmap, wherein the color of the underlying bitmap is (RGB value), a first method of generating a watermark image by raster operation (AND) of a bitmap to be overlapped with a base bitmap, and a fourth method of automatically moving the overlapped bitmap to a position not overlapping the base bitmap. And a generating means for generating a bitmap of a watermark to be sent to the printer by the method selected by the selecting means. . 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting means selects the first method when the RGB values of the background bitmap exceed a predetermined value registered in advance, and selects the other method when the RGB values do not exceed the predetermined value. 4. The print image creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print image is created.