JP2002116895A - Printing method and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing method and a printing system capable of efficiently operating a procedure ranging from the order reception to delivery of a printed matter. SOLUTION: An order receiver 11 in charge of the manufacturing of a printed matter, an orderer 12 who orders this, and a first printing agent 13 and a second printing agent 14 who print the printed matter are connected through an internet 17 to each other. The order receiver 11 is constituted with a system server 21 in which the program of this printing system is stored as a center so that various print data stored in a data base 22 can be extracted, and that print data can be manufactured by manufacturing terminal equipment 23. The manufactured print data are calibrated by the orderer 12 on a screen, and the calibrated print data are transmitted through the internet 17 to, for exsample, reception terminal equipment 27. The first printing agent 13 performs printing based on the received print data by a printer 28, and dispatches this.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing method and a printing system, and more particularly to a printing method and a printing system in a case where a place where print information is produced and a place where printing is performed are different.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing system, a print orderer brings back a customer who is an original orderer and makes a design plate at a factory, and then presents a proof to the orderer. Then, upon receiving a correction or instruction from the ordering party, the proofreading that has been corrected many times is presented, and the proofreading has been completed (completion). Next, he made a plate making film based on the contents of the graduation and printed it.

[0003]

In the conventional printing system as described above, a great deal of time and cost is required for every correction from printing order to completion of printing.

[0004] In addition, even when a plate making film is produced, if the printing factory is located in a remote place, the plate is transported, or data for producing the plate making film is recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark). Since this is sent to a factory, it takes time and cost until printing is completed.

[0005] Furthermore, if the destination of distribution or delivery of printed matter is far from the printing factory, it must be transported by truck or the like, which also delays the final delivery date and further increases costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing method and a printing system that can efficiently operate from receiving an order for printed matter to delivery.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing method comprising the steps of:
A data creation step of creating print information as digital data at the location, a data transfer step of transporting the created digital data to a second location different from the first location via a network, And a data printing step of executing printing at the second location based on the digital data.

[0010] With this configuration, the printing is performed in a state where the place for producing the information for printing and the place for executing the printing are different.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the data creation step uses the third information different from the first location and the second location using the calibration information as calibration digital data. Is transferred to the third place, and the graduated digital data that has been calibrated at the third place is created as digital data.

[0010] With this configuration, a place where print information is produced and a place where the information is calibrated are different from each other.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system, wherein character data registration means for registering character data related to a product for each product, and selecting the registered character data and storing the selected character data for each product. Product information registration means for registering as text information to be described, location registration means for registering the location of the product to be printed, and text information corresponding to the placed product based on the registered location from the product information registration means. Display means for reading out and displaying at the arranged position.

With this configuration, the displayed contents are determined by the registered character information and the arrangement of the products.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further comprises image data registration means for registering image data related to the product for each product, and the product information registration means stores In addition, the registered image data is selected and registered as image information explaining this for each product, and the display unit reads the corresponding image information from the product information registration unit in addition to the character information, and arranges the arranged image data. It is displayed at the position.

[0014] With this configuration, product information to which image information is added is displayed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fourth aspect, an information storage means for storing the displayed character information and image information is further provided.

With this configuration, the displayed character information and image information are stored.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fourth or fifth aspect, information transmitting means for transmitting the displayed character information and image information to a desired place via a network, The information processing apparatus further includes information receiving means for receiving the transmitted character information and image information, and information printing means for performing printing based on the received character information and image information.

With this configuration, printing is performed at a desired place based on the displayed character information and image information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the sixth aspect of the invention, the information printing means includes a plurality of films having different colors to be attached to a printing machine based on the received character information and image information. It includes film output means for outputting.

According to this structure, a printing film or C.I. based on the received character information and image information.
T. P. (Computer to plate: plate) is output.

[0021]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, printing can be performed near the place where the printed matter is delivered, so that the cost and time required for shipping the printed matter can be greatly reduced. I can do it. Further, since the place of production is not limited, it is possible to produce more flexible product information.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, since it is not necessary to go out for calibration, the calibration can be performed more quickly and reliably.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the display content is determined by the registered character information and the arrangement of the products, so that it is possible to flexibly and quickly cope with various commodities and different product arrangements. Is good.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the third aspect of the present invention, since the product information is displayed in addition to the image information, a more versatile printing system can be obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect of the invention, the displayed character information and image information are stored, so that the information can be easily handled.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the fourth or fifth aspect of the invention, printing can be performed at a desired place. It can be greatly reduced. Further, since the place of production is not limited, it is possible to produce more flexible product information.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the sixth aspect, since the film is output based on the received character information and image information, the quality of the film attached to the printing press is always constant. It becomes constant, and the reliability of printing accuracy is improved.

[0028]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the figure, an orderer 12 who places an order for the production of a printed matter, a contractor 11 who is commissioned to produce a printed matter, and a first printing company 13 and a second printing company 14 which actually perform printing. Are connected on a network via the Internet 17. The contractor 11 mainly includes a system server 21 in which programs for controlling the present system are stored.

The system server 21 is connected to a database 22 for storing various data for printing. Further, an intranet 20 is laid in the order receiver 11 to efficiently perform a print information production operation, and a system server 21 is connected to the intranet 20.
Note that a production terminal device 23 used for producing print information is connected to the intranet 20, and a color printer 26 for confirming the contents of the print information is connected to the production terminal device 23.
Is connected.

Further, the intranet 20 includes execution terminal devices 24 a to 24 used by designers, illustrators, copywriters, and other persons involved in the printing work in each place.
c are respectively connected. In this way, the contractor 11 transmits and receives print data to and from each other via the intranet 20, thereby enabling efficient print production work.

In the orderer 12, a confirmation terminal device 31 for confirming the print information transmitted from the orderer 11
Are connected to the Internet 17, and a color printer 32 for outputting the print information received by the confirmation terminal device 31 to paper or the like is connected to the confirmation terminal device 31.

In the first printing company 13, the order receiving party 1
A receiving terminal device 27 for receiving the printing information transmitted from the Internet 1 via the Internet 17 is connected. The printing device 28 performs printing based on the printing data received by the receiving terminal device 27,
This is sent to the delivery destination of the printed matter.

Similarly, in the second printer 14, a receiving terminal device 29 for receiving the print data transmitted from the order receiver 11 via the Internet 17 is connected to the Internet 17. Then, based on the printing data received by the receiving terminal device 29, the printing machine 30
And print it out.

In this embodiment, the orderer 1
1. It is assumed that the orderer 12, the first printing company 13 and the second printing company 14 are both located at remote locations.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing more specific contents of the database 22 shown in FIG.

Referring to the figure, a system server 21 connected to the intranet 20 has a master database 35 for storing image data and character data for each product in an individual, and a product database for each product according to the contents of printed matter. The database 22 is connected to a flyer database 36 for storing the selected image data, character data, and the like, and a layout database 37 for storing product arrangement information in printed matter. The specific contents of use of these databases will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the execution contents of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the figure, first, in step S61, text data is created based on the manuscript presented by the print orderer. This manuscript is composed for each product,
A code for specifying the information for each sentence unit is attached, and the information is stored in the master database 35 together with the code as character data.

Next, the merchandise presented by the print orderer 12 is photographed with a digital camera or the like, and image data on the merchandise is created (S62). This image data is also created for each product. Even when there are a plurality of image data, a code for specifying the image data is attached to each image data, and is stored in the master database 35 together with the code. FIG.
Is an example in which the contents of a plurality of character data (comments) and image data of a certain product stored in the master database 35 are displayed on the screen of the production terminal device 23. The character data and image data stored for each product can be used not only for printing but also as product information for various uses.

Next, from the character data for each product and the image data for each product stored in the master database 35, appropriate data is selected and taken out based on the instruction of the orderer 12, and is extracted as flyer data. Create (S
63). In other words, the flyer data can be said to be product information combined according to the purpose and use of the printed material such as the flyer. The flyer data thus created is stored in the flyer database 36 in association with each product. FIG. 5 is an example in which the content of the flyer data of a certain product stored in the flyer database 36 is displayed on the screen of the production terminal device 23.

Next, a layout for defining a frame of arrangement of each product in the printed matter is created (S64).
If there is an instruction from the orderer 12, it is created according to the layout. Note that the created layout data is stored in the layout database 37 in association with each leaflet. This allows the layout data to be used effectively when producing a similar flyer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of this layout, and shows a screen displayed on the production terminal device 23 of the contractor 11. As shown in the figure, in this state, only the framework of the product arrangement is shown.

Here, each of the character file and the image file linked to the position information of each frame shown in the layout is associated with each of the flyer data stored in the flyer database 36 via a product. Input as follows. In accordance with this input, flyer data of a desired product is displayed at a predetermined position in the layout. This is called the flow of the print data (S65).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen state in which the flow of the data has been completed, which is displayed on the production terminal device 23. The screen shown in FIG. 7 is a screen corresponding to an actual printed matter, and character data and image data can be calibrated on this screen. Usually, at the end of this data flow,
Ask the orderer to attend and make corrections on the spot. As a result, it does not take a long time until the proof print is determined as in the related art.

The screen shown in FIG. 7 can be displayed not only on the production terminal device 23 but also on the screen of the confirmation terminal device 31 of the orderer 12 via the intranet 20 and the Internet 17. It is easy to present. In particular, when the orderer 12 and the contractor 11 are separated from each other, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the production terminal device 23 and the confirmation terminal device 31, and the contractor 11 is connected to the contractor 11 using a telephone or the like. It is also possible to calibrate the contents with the orderer 12.

Although the color is displayed on the screen into which the data has been inserted, the contents are output using the color printer 26 and are calibrated to facilitate the calibration (S66). This output can also be obtained by the color printer 32 of the orderer 12 in the same manner.
The orderer 12 can also proofread the contents based on the output print contents.

Next, if there is a correction for the color print (YES in S67), various data are corrected on the screen shown in FIG. 7 (S68). This correction is repeated until there is no correction to the color print.However, since it is performed on the screen in the presence of the orderer or by telephone communication for the same image, it can be done more quickly and accurately. It becomes possible. The print data determined in this manner is stored in, for example, the layout database 37 in association with each printed material.

When there is no correction in the color print or when the correction is completed, in step S69, a film output for making a simple sample close to the actual print is performed. Specifically, four films of each of four colors of red, blue, yellow and black are produced, and a proof paper surface called a color proof is produced using these films. Since the color tone of the printing paper is close to that of the actual printing ink, this is used to make the orderer confirm the final color usage.

If there is a correction in the color at this point, the film is output again after correcting the color in step S71, and the contents are confirmed. When there is no correction by the film output or when the correction is completed, the printing data (lower version data) stored in the layout database 37 finally determined and stored.
Is transferred (transmitted) to, for example, the receiving terminal device 27 of the first printing company 13.

When the first printer 13 receives the print data, it outputs four types of films having different colors in the same manner as described above, places the same on a printing plate, and exposes it. T. P. To produce a printing plate by printing directly on
2). The printing plate thus produced is mounted on a printing press 28 such as a rotary printing press, and a desired number of printings are executed (S
73). The flyer, which is a printed matter on which the required number of copies are printed, is sent to a predetermined destination by truck or the like.

In the above description, the film output is performed by the first printing company 13 separately from the contractor 11, but the film output by the contractor 11 is transmitted to the first printing company 13. It is also possible to transport using a truck or the like.

In the above description, the printing data is transmitted to the first printing company 13 and the printing is performed here. However, the delivery destination of the printed material is the second printing company from the first printing company 13. If the number 14 is closer, sending the print data to the second printing company 14 and sending out the flyer printed here can further reduce the cost and time required for the shipping.

In the above-described embodiment, the character information and the image information are used as the product information. However, it goes without saying that the product information may be composed of only the character information depending on the content of the printed matter. . In this case, data corresponding to the product is selected from the registered character data and used as product information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a database 22 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing specific contents of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram showing an example in which character data and image data for one product stored in a master database 35 shown in FIG. 2 are displayed on a screen.

5 is a diagram showing an example in which product information for one product stored in a flyer database 36 of FIG. 2 is displayed on a screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the contents of a layout of a printed matter stored in a layout database 37 of FIG. 2 are displayed on a screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which product information data is poured into the layout of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 17 Internet 21 System server 22 Database 23 Production terminal 26, 36 Color printer 27, 29 Receiving terminal 28, 30 Printing machine 31 Confirmation terminal 35 Master database 36 Handbill Database 37... Layout database Note that the same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 17/60 502 G06F 17/60 502 5B049 F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH03 HJ06 HK04 HN05 HN15 HQ17 2C087 AB01 AB06 BA05 BD53 BD56 CB03 CB17 2C187 AE01 AE06 CD15 2H084 AA40 AE06 AE10 BB04 CC05 CC18 5B021 AA01 BB05 EE02 5B049 AA06 BB25 CC05 DD05 FF03 FF07 GG04

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A data creation step of creating print information as digital data at a first location, and transferring the created digital data to a second location different from the first location via a network. And a data printing step of performing printing at the second location based on the transferred digital data. 2. The data generating step includes: transmitting calibration information as calibration digital data to a third location different from the first location and the second location; and performing calibration at the third location. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein completed school digital data is created as the digital data. 3. Character data registration means for registering character data associated with a product for each product, and product information registration means for selecting the registered character data and registering it as character information for explaining the product for each product An arrangement registration unit for registering an arrangement of a product to be printed; and, based on the registered arrangement, reading character information corresponding to the arranged product from the product information registration unit.
And a display means for displaying at the arranged position. 4. An image data registration unit for registering image data related to a product for each product, wherein the product information registration unit selects the registered image data in addition to character information, for each product. 4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the information is registered as image information for explaining the information, and the display unit reads out the corresponding image information from the product information registration unit in addition to the character information, and displays the read image information at the arranged position. . 5. The printing system according to claim 4, further comprising an information storage unit for storing the displayed character information and image information. 6. An information transmitting unit for transmitting the displayed character information and image information to a desired place via a network, an information receiving unit for receiving the transmitted character information and image information, and The printing system according to claim 4, further comprising an information printing unit configured to perform printing based on the text information and the image information. 7. The printing method according to claim 6, wherein the information printing unit includes a film output unit that outputs a plurality of films of different colors to be attached to a printing machine based on the received character information and image information. system.