JP2002263386A - Embroidery data-making system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an embroidery data-making system and program capable of making seams of embroidery patterns depending on a plurality of conditions to area groups and reducing the number of seams without greatly spoiling the quality of embroidery compared with the case when the detailed area group is made over the entire embroidery. SOLUTION: An embroidery data-making system 100 extracts a high-frequency area picture (s1) and extracts a low-frequency area picture (s2) from an original picture. The, the first embroidery data is made (s3) on the basis of the high-frequency area picture, and the second embroidery data is made (s4) on the basis of the low-frequency area picture. The first and second embroidery data are the data that can specify colors and sewing orders. The first and second embroidery data are compounded to make 1 embroidery data (s5). This embroidery data is the data that is constituted in such a manner that sewing is continuously performed on the basis of the second embroidery data after sewing on the basis of the first embroidery data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery data processing system and an embroidery data processing system for creating embroidery data necessary for the operation of an embroidery sewing machine on the basis of image data for specifying an image expressed in color or shades such as photographs. Regarding the processing program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of embroidery data processing apparatuses for creating embroidery data based on image data such as designs and figures read by an image scanner or the like have been proposed for home sewing machines. For example, JP-A-2000-288
In the embroidery data creation device described in H.275, the image data is divided into a plurality of small areas having variable widths in the image, and each area is reduced to a limited number of colors while reflecting the surrounding colors. Embroidery data is created by converting an area into one or more stitches. by this,
Embroidery data reflecting the color characteristics of the image could be created. In addition, Japanese Patent Application No.
In 00-010139, the feature of the angle of each part is extracted from the image data, a line segment according to the feature is arranged for the entire image, and the number of colors is limited while reflecting the color around each line segment. An embroidery data creating apparatus has been proposed in which embroidery data is created by reducing colors and converting each line segment into a seam. According to this method, an image represented by colors and shades, such as a photograph, is described in JP-A-2000-288.
As compared with the embroidery data creation device described in H.275, embroidery data capable of performing more detailed sewing utilizing the features of the image could be created.

[0003]

However, the embroidery data creating apparatus as described above has a plurality of line segments or a plurality of regions (hereinafter, a line segment or a region is defined as a region, and a plurality of line segments) under the same condition over the entire image. Or a plurality of regions as a region group). In particular, it is a part that requires detailed sewing such as a part of the image where the color changes sharply or an edge part (hereinafter referred to as a detailed part), or a detailed sewing such as a part where the color changes gradually. Regardless of whether it is an unnecessary part (hereinafter, referred to as a non-detailed part), creating the region group under the same condition has the following problem.

When a group of regions capable of expressing the entire image in detail in accordance with the detailed portion is created, a region group capable of expressing the non-detailed portion in detail is created.
There has been a problem that the number of areas, that is, the number of seams is greatly increased. Further, when an area group is created according to a non-detailed part, the number of areas can be reduced, but there is also a problem that the detailed part cannot be expressed in detail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an embroidery data creation system and an embroidery data creation program capable of creating an area group to be a seam of an embroidery pattern based on a plurality of conditions. It is an object of the present invention to provide an embroidery data creation system and an embroidery data creation program capable of reducing the number of stitches without greatly deteriorating the image quality as compared with the case where the entire image is created.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problem, an embroidery data creation system according to claim 1 creates embroidery data necessary for embroidering an original image based on the original image. An embroidery data generating system for generating a plurality of pixels of the original image based on frequency components of the original image.
Partial image data creating means for creating partial image data for specifying each partial image when decomposed into the above partial images,
Small area group for specifying the plurality of small areas when each partial image specified by the partial image data is represented by a plurality of small areas based on the partial image data created by the partial image data creating means A small area group data creating means for creating data; and a plurality of small areas required to be sewn with one or more stitches based on the small area group data created by the small area group data creating means. Embroidery data creating means for creating embroidery data.

According to the embroidery data creation system configured as described above, based on the difference between the attribute value regarding the color of each pixel constituting the original image and the attribute value of the adjacent pixel,
A plurality of area groups serving as seams of the embroidery pattern can be created. For example, a portion requiring detailed sewing such as a portion where color change is sharp or an edge portion (hereinafter referred to as a detail portion) is created as a group of regions that can be expressed in detail, and a portion where the color change is gradual Such a portion that does not require detailed sewing (hereinafter referred to as a non-detailed portion) can be created as an area group that is not expressed in detail. by this,
Embroidery data that allows detailed sewing to be sewn in detail and non-detailed to perform non-detailed sewing can greatly reduce the image quality compared to creating an area group that can represent the entire original image in detail. And the number of seams can be reduced.

[0008] In order to decompose the original image, the partial image data creating means is configured to perform the following based on a component in a predetermined frequency range among the frequency components constituting the original image data.
It is preferable to determine a range to be decomposed as the partial image from the original image.

With such a configuration, a partial image to be extracted from the original image can be determined based on a component within a predetermined frequency range among the frequency components constituting the original image. This frequency component has a high frequency component as a pixel having a larger color difference from an adjacent pixel in a pixel constituting the original image, and therefore a portion requiring detailed sewing, such as a portion where color changes rapidly or an edge portion. Can be decomposed based on a predetermined high-frequency component, and a portion that does not require detailed sewing, such as a portion with a gradual change in color, can be decomposed based on a component excluding the high-frequency component.

The embroidery data needs to be able to specify the color of a small area serving as a seam of a sewing pattern. The color of the small area can be determined based on the color of the original image for each small area group data, for example. Further, for example, as in the embroidery data creation system according to claim 2, when the embroidery data creation means determines the color of each small area specified by the small area group data, The color calculation areas of a fixed shape including the small area are sequentially set, and in the color calculation area of the target small area whose color is to be determined, if there is no other small area whose color has been determined, Based on the attribute values of the pixels present in the area corresponding to the color calculation area in the original image, determine the color of the target small area,
In the color calculation area of the target small area, if there is another small area whose color is determined, the color of the other small area whose color is determined and the color calculation area of the original image The color of the target small area may be determined based on the attribute values of the pixels existing in the corresponding area.

According to the embroidery data creating system configured as described above, regardless of which small area group data is the small area, the small area whose color is determined and the original image are referred to. Therefore, the original image can be represented as an embroidery pattern in more detail than when the color of the small region is determined based on the color of the original image for each small region group data.

Further, in the embroidery data created by the embroidery data creation system, it is necessary to be able to specify a sewing order in which each small area specified by the small area group data is used as a stitch of a sewing pattern. The sewing order is determined, for example, by determining the sewing order for each small area group data, and after the data row of the small area group data whose sewing order is determined, the data row of the other small area group data whose sewing order is determined. Can be determined.

However, in such embroidery data, the sewing order is determined for each of the small area group data. Therefore, unless the small area is specified by the same small area group data, it is an adjacent small area. However, since the stitches are not continuously sewn, there is a possibility that running stitches and cross stitches may be increased, not being the optimum stitch order.

[0014] In this respect, for example, as in the embroidery data creation system according to claim 3, the embroidery data sets the sewing order of the small area specified by the small area group data to the two or more partial images. Regardless of whether or not the small area group data created based on any of the partial images,
It is preferable that the data is determined in such a manner that the sewing order is determined at least for each small area of the same color.

According to the embroidery data creating system configured as described above, the sewing order can be determined regardless of which small area group data is the small area group data. Determine the sewing order for each
Compared to those in which each is connected, it is possible to achieve an optimum sewing order with less crossover stitching and running stitching.

An embroidery data creating program according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is an embroidery data creating program for causing a computer system to execute processing for creating embroidery data necessary for embroidering an original image based on the original image. And for the plurality of pixels constituting the original image, dividing the original image by 2 based on frequency components constituting the original image.
A partial image data creation procedure for creating partial image data for specifying each partial image when decomposed into the above partial images,
Small area group for specifying the plurality of small areas when each partial image specified by the partial image data is represented by a plurality of small areas based on the partial image data created by the partial image data creation procedure A small area group data creating procedure for creating data, and a plurality of the small areas required to be sewn with one or more stitches based on the small area group data created by the small area group data creating procedure. An embroidery data creation procedure for creating embroidery data.

According to the embroidery data creation program configured as described above, the embroidery data creation system described above can be configured using the embroidery data creation program. Can be obtained. Further, in the partial image data creation procedure, a range to be decomposed as the partial image from the original image is determined based on a component of a predetermined frequency range among frequency components constituting the original image data. Good to be.

With this configuration, the embroidery data creation system can be configured by using the embroidery data creation program, and the same operation and effect as those of the embroidery data creation system can be obtained. . The embroidery data creation program according to claim 5 is configured to determine a color of a small area specified by the small area group data for each of the small area group data in the embroidery data creation procedure. In each of the small regions, a color calculation region having a fixed shape including the small region is sequentially set, and another small region whose color is determined is included in the color calculation region in the small region to be determined. Does not exist, the color of the target small area is determined based on the attribute values of the pixels present in the area corresponding to the color calculation area in the original image, and the color calculation in the target small area is performed. In the region, when there is another small region in which the color is determined, the color of the other small region in which the color is determined and the pixels existing in the region corresponding to the color calculation region in the original image. Based on the attribute value,
The color of the target small area is determined.

According to the embroidery data creation program configured as described above, the embroidery data creation system can be configured by using the embroidery data creation program. The same operation and effect as those of the system can be obtained.

The embroidery data creation program according to claim 6, wherein the embroidery data sets the sewing order of the small area specified by the small area group data to any one of the two or more partial images. Regardless of whether the data is small area group data created based on the partial image, the sewing order is determined at least for each small area of the same color.

According to the embroidery data creation program configured as described above, the embroidery data creation system can be configured by using the embroidery data creation program. The same operation and effect as those of the system can be obtained.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples. [First Embodiment] This embroidery data creation system 100
Has a function of creating and editing embroidery data for sewing the pattern as an embroidery pattern from a pattern input by an arbitrary method, and for supplying the created and edited embroidery data to the embroidery sewing machine. Things.

The embroidery sewing machine that has received the embroidery data is
While moving the embroidery frame holding the work cloth to be embroidered placed on the sewing machine head to a predetermined position indicated by the XY coordinate system unique to the apparatus by the horizontal movement mechanism, the sewing operation is performed by the sewing needle and the shuttle mechanism. By doing so, the work cloth is configured to embroider a predetermined pattern.

The horizontal moving mechanism and the needle are controlled by a control device such as a microcomputer built in the sewing machine. By providing data (stitch data) indicating the falling position, the control device can automatically execute the embroidery operation.

[Overall Configuration] Embroidery Data Creation System 10
0, as shown in FIG. 1, a main body 1, a mouse 2, a keyboard 3, a memory card connector 4,
A scanner 5 and a display device 6 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 1 includes a CPU 7 for controlling the whole main body 1, a RAM 8 for temporarily storing the processing results by the CPU 7, a ROM 9 for storing various processing procedures performed by the CPU 7, and A mouse 2, a keyboard 3, a memory card connector 4, and a display device 6 are connected to the main body 1 via the input / output interface 10. A memory card 11 is detachably connected to the memory card connector 4, and embroidery data created and edited by the embroidery data creation system 100 is stored. Then, embroidery data can be given to the embroidery sewing machine via the memory card 11.

[Processing Procedure of Embroidery Data Creation System 100] Next, a processing procedure performed by the embroidery data creation system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. This process is executed after an image specifying a symbol is input from the scanner 5. In this embodiment, an example in which a face image as shown in FIG. 4 is input will be described.

First, the embroidery data creation system 100
Extract a high-frequency region image from the input original image (s
1). The high-frequency region image extracted in this process is an image corresponding to a region including a predetermined high-frequency component in the original image, and is extracted by a high-frequency region extraction process described later.
The frequency component included in the original image is a representation of the difference in attribute values related to colors in the original image as frequency components.
A pixel having a larger difference in attribute value from an adjacent pixel in a pixel constituting the original image has a high-frequency component. For this reason, in this processing, an area composed of pixels having a difference in attribute value from an adjacent pixel larger than a predetermined value is extracted from pixels constituting the original image. The color attribute value referred to here is a value that each pixel constituting the original image has and can express the color of the pixel by three values of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). And the difference between the attribute values corresponds to the spatial distance on the spatial coordinates represented by (R, G, B). Note that an image as shown in FIG. 7 is extracted by this processing.

Next, the embroidery data creation system 100
An image obtained by removing a predetermined high-frequency component from the original image (hereinafter referred to as a low-frequency area image) is extracted (s2). The low-frequency area image extracted by this processing is obtained by deleting the high-frequency area image extracted by the processing of s1 from the original image. Note that an image as shown in FIG. 8 is extracted by this processing.

Next, the embroidery data creation system 100
First embroidery data is created based on the high frequency region image (s3). The high-frequency region image is a region in which the difference between the attribute values of the pixels constituting the original image and the adjacent pixels is larger than a predetermined value, and such a region has a small difference in the attribute values between the adjacent pixels. Since the color changes within the same area are sharper than in the low-frequency area image, which is an area, it is necessary to express the embroidery pattern in detail. The embroidery pattern is formed by sewing each line segment when the high-frequency region image is expressed by a plurality of line segments as stitches. In this process, the line segments constituting the embroidery pattern are shown below. It is created in a simple way and arranged in detail as an embroidery pattern.

First, a tilt component is calculated based on the color of each pixel constituting the high-frequency region image and the attribute values of the pixels around the pixel, and the calculated tilt is set to a predetermined length for each pixel. The inclined line segment is made to correspond to the component. Then, data specifying these plurality of line segments is created as first line segment group data. Note that when there is a plurality of line segments overlapping by a certain range or more among all the line segments specified by the first line segment group data, the other line segments are deleted while leaving one line segment. By performing such processing, the data amount is reduced. In the present embodiment, a data string specifying both ends of each line segment by XY coordinates is created as first line group data.

Next, the color of each line segment specified by the first line segment group data is calculated by the following procedure. First, for each of the plurality of line segments specified by the first line segment group data, a region (color calculation region) having a fixed shape including the line segment is set, and the color calculation region in the line segment whose color is to be determined is set. If there is no other line segment whose color has been determined, the average of the attribute values of the pixels present in the area corresponding to the color calculation area in the high-frequency area image is calculated, and the multi-color thread used for embroidery is calculated. The color closest to the calculated average is selected from the colors and set as the color of the target line segment. On the other hand, in the color calculation region of the target line segment whose color is to be determined, When there is a line segment, the average of the attribute values of the target line segment and the other line segment for which the color is determined, and the average of the attribute values of the pixels existing in the region corresponding to the color calculation region in the high-frequency image Calculate a color that is equal, and check if the color is among the colors of the threads used for embroidery. Select color closest to the color that the calculated, the line segment of the target color.

When the color of each line segment specified by the first line segment group data is calculated, the sewing order in the case where the line segment in each line segment is used as a stitch is rearranged for each color by the following procedure. First, among the line segments specified by the first line segment group data, a line segment that satisfies a predetermined condition is selected as the first line segment, and the start end and the end are determined. In the present embodiment, the line segment having one end at the upper left is selected as the first line segment, and the one end is determined as the start end and the other end is determined as the end. Then, a line segment in which one end is arranged at a position closest to the end in the same color as the line segment rearranged immediately before and the order is determined is selected as the next order, and the one end is selected as the start end,
The other end is determined as the end point. Thus, the order of all the line segments is determined and rearranged. Note that the order of the colors may be a predetermined order or may be specified by a user.

Thus, based on the high-frequency region image and the first line segment group data, data that can specify the color and the sewing order when each line segment is a stitch is created as the first embroidery data. FIG. 9 shows an image obtained when the sewing is performed based on the first embroidery data. Note that the processing of s3 has already been performed in Japanese Patent Application No.
Since the processing is the same as the processing described in detail in 000-010139, a more detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the embroidery data creation system 100
Second embroidery data is created based on the low frequency area image (s4). The low-frequency region image is a region in which the difference between the attribute values of the pixels constituting the original image and the adjacent pixels is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and such a region has a large difference in the attribute values between the adjacent pixels. Since the color changes within the same area are more gradual than in the high-frequency region image, which is the region, there is no need to express the embroidery pattern in detail. The embroidery pattern is formed by sewing each line segment as a stitch when the low-frequency area image is expressed by a plurality of line segments. In this process, the line segments constituting the embroidery pattern are shown below. They are arranged in such a way. First, the low frequency region image is decomposed into a plurality of rectangular regions having a predetermined shape. Then, data that can specify the color of the line segment in each area and the sewing order for each area is created as second embroidery data. FIG. 10 shows an image when the sewing is performed based on the second embroidery data. In addition,
The process of s4 is the same as the process already described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-288275, and a more detailed description will be omitted.

Then, the embroidery data creating system 100
Creates one piece of embroidery data by combining the first embroidery data and the second embroidery data (s5). The embroidery data synthesized in this process is obtained by combining a data string as the first embroidery data and a data string as the second embroidery data. When the sewing is performed by the embroidery sewing machine, the embroidery data is generated based on the first embroidery data. After the sewing is performed, the sewing is continuously performed based on the second embroidery data. FIG. 11 shows an image in the case where sewing is performed based on the embroidery data.

[High Frequency Area Extraction Processing by CPU 7] Next, the high frequency area extraction processing of the CPU 7 will be described with reference to FIG. This process is executed after an image is input from the scanner 5. First, the CPU 7 creates a frequency component image in which the original image is represented by frequency components by Fourier transforming the image (s11). In this process,
An image in which the frequency component becomes lower toward the center is created as a frequency component image and displayed on the display device 6.

Next, the CPU 7 creates an extracted image by extracting an arbitrary high frequency component from the frequency component image (s1).
2). In this process, the user selects an arbitrary low frequency component based on the frequency component image displayed on the display device 6,
An operation for deleting is performed, and the low frequency component is deleted by this operation, so that the remaining image is used as an extracted image. Note that the threshold value for selecting and deleting the low frequency component may be a predetermined value.

Next, the CPU 7 performs an inverse Fourier transform on the extracted image to create an inverse transformed image (s13). The inverse transformed image created in this process is an image composed of only high-frequency components corresponding to the extracted image in the original image.
It should be noted that the inversely converted image as shown in FIG.

Next, the CPU 7 binarizes the inversely converted image to create a binarized image (s14). In order to extract an image corresponding to a high frequency component area in the original image, an area corresponding to the inverse transformed image in the original image may be extracted. Since this inversely transformed image is a multi-valued image having components in a predetermined frequency range, in this processing, the inversely transformed image is binarized by a predetermined threshold value so that it can be specified by a value of 1. Become. The threshold value for binarization may be a predetermined value, or may be configured so that the user can arbitrarily input the value. FIG. 6 shows a binarized image created by this processing.

Then, the CPU 7 extracts a region corresponding to the binarized image in the original image as a high-frequency region image (s15). FIG. 7 shows a high-frequency region image created by this processing. In the first embodiment described above, the high frequency region image and the low frequency region image correspond to partial images in the present invention.

The embroidery data creating system 100 for extracting a high-frequency area image from an original image in the processing of s1 and extracting a low-frequency area image from the original image in the processing of s2 functions as a partial image data creating means in the present invention. Is what you do. In the process of s3, the line segment group data that can represent the high-frequency region image as a plurality of line segments corresponds to the small region group data in the present invention.
This corresponds to a small area in the present invention.

Further, the embroidery data creating system 100 for creating line segment group data capable of expressing a high-frequency region image as a plurality of line segments in the process of s3 functions as a small region group data creating unit in the present invention. Also,
Line segment group data that can represent the low-frequency region image as a plurality of line segments in the process of s4 corresponds to the small region group data in the present invention, and the line segment corresponds to the small region in the present invention. .

Further, the embroidery data creating system 100 for creating the line segment group data capable of expressing the low frequency region image as a plurality of line segments in the process of s4 functions as the small region group data creating means in the present invention. Also,
The first embroidery data is created based on the high-frequency region image in the process of s3, the second embroidery data is created based on the low-frequency image in the process of s4, and the first embroidery data is created in the process of s5.
An embroidery data creation system 100 that combines embroidery data and second embroidery data to create one embroidery data functions as embroidery data creation means in the present invention.

According to the embroidery data creating system 100 configured as described above, a plurality of line segments serving as stitches of the embroidery pattern can be created according to the frequency components included in the original image. This frequency component has a high frequency component as a pixel having a larger attribute value from an adjacent pixel in a pixel constituting the original image, and therefore requires detailed sewing such as a portion where color changes sharply or an edge portion. Part (hereafter,
(Detailed portion) can be decomposed based on a predetermined high-frequency component, and a portion that does not require detailed sewing such as a portion with a gradual change in color (hereinafter referred to as a non-detailed portion) can be decomposed to a predetermined low frequency. It can be decomposed based on frequency components. Therefore, the detailed part can be created as a group of areas that can be expressed in detail, and the non-detailed part can be created as an area group that cannot be expressed in detail. As a result, detailed portions can be sewn in detail, and non-detailed portions can be sewn in non-detailed portions. Therefore, image quality is greatly impaired compared to a case where a group of regions that can be expressed in detail over the entire original image is created. And the number of seams can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment] The embroidery data creation system 200 has the same configuration as the embroidery data creation system 100 in the first embodiment, and differs from the processing procedure of FIG. Therefore, this processing procedure will be described.

[Processing Procedure of Embroidery Data Creation System 200] The processing procedure performed by the embroidery data creation system 200 will be described with reference to FIG. This processing is executed after an image specifying an arbitrary symbol is input from the scanner 5.

First, the embroidery data creation system 100
A high-frequency region image is extracted from the input original image (s2
1). This process is the same as the process of s1 in FIG. Next, the embroidery data creation system 100 extracts a low frequency region image from the original image (s22). This process is the same as the process of s2 in FIG.

Next, the embroidery data creation system 200
Second line segment group data is created based on the low frequency region image (s23). In this process, the low-frequency area image is decomposed into a plurality of rectangular areas, and data in which the color of the line segment in each area can be specified is created as second line group data. The second line segment group data is data in which the sewing order for each area is not specified in the second embroidery data created in the process of s4 in FIG.

Next, the embroidery data creation system 100
First based on the high-frequency region image and the second line segment group data
Line group data is created (s24). In this process, first, the color of each line segment specified by the first line segment group data is calculated by the following procedure.

For each of the plurality of line segments specified by the first line segment group data, a region (color calculation region) of a fixed shape including the line segment is set, and the color calculation region of the line segment whose color is to be determined is determined. Includes the line segment specified by the second line segment group data,
If there is no other line segment for which the color has been determined, the average of the attribute values of the pixels present in the area corresponding to the color calculation area in the high-frequency area image is calculated, and the color of the thread color The color closest to the calculated average is selected from among them, and is set as the color of the target line segment. On the other hand, in the color calculation region of the target line segment whose color is to be determined, the color is specified by the second line segment group data. If there is another line segment whose color is determined, including the line segment to be processed, the average of the target line segment and the color of the other line segment whose color is determined corresponds to the color calculation area in the high-frequency image. A color is calculated so that the average of the attribute values of the pixels present in the area is equal, and the color closest to the calculated color is selected from among the colors of the threads used for embroidery, and the target color is selected. The color of the line segment.

In this way, based on the high-frequency region image and the second line group data, data that can specify the color when each line is used as a stitch is created as the first line group data. Then, the embroidery data creation system 200 determines whether the original image
Embroidery data is created based on the line group data and the second line group data (s25). In this processing, the line segments in each of the first line segment group data and the second line segment group data are rearranged for each color according to the following procedure, thereby determining the sewing order when each line segment is used as a stitch. I do.

From among the line segments specified by the first line segment group data and the second line segment group data, a line segment satisfying a predetermined condition is selected as the first line segment, and the start end and the end are determined. In the present embodiment, the line segment having one end at the upper left is selected as the first line segment, and the one end is determined as the start end and the other end is determined as the end. Then, a line segment in which one end is located at the position closest to the end in the same color as the line segment rearranged immediately before and the order is determined is selected as the next order, and the one end is set as the start end and the other end is set as the end point. decide. Thus, the order of all the line segments is determined and rearranged. Note that the order of the colors may be a predetermined order,
The user may be able to specify.

In this way, based on the first line segment group data and the second line segment group data, data that can specify the sewing order when each line segment is a stitch is created as embroidery data. According to the embroidery data creating system 200 configured as described above, regardless of which line group data is the line segment specified, the first image is referred to by referring to the line segment whose color is determined and the original image. Since the color of the line segment specified by the line segment data is determined, the color of the original image can be expressed in more detail than in the embroidery data creation system 100 of the first embodiment.

Further, the sewing order can be determined regardless of the line segment specified by the first line segment group data or the line segment specified by the second line segment group data. As in the embroidery data creation system, the sewing order is determined for each line segment group data, and the optimum sewing order with less crossover stitching and running stitching can be obtained as compared with the case where the respective stitching sequences are connected.

[Modifications] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, in the first embodiment, the low-frequency area image is decomposed into a plurality of rectangular areas,
Although the data in which the color of the line segment in each area can be specified is created as the second line group data, the embroidery data generation method applied to the high-frequency area image is directly applied to the low-frequency area image to generate the embroidery data. Compared to creating a
The method of creating the second line segment group data is not particularly limited as long as the method can generate embroidery data that reduces the number of stitches. For example, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11
As in the embroidery data processing device described in 169568,
Embroidery data may be created based on the mosaiced low-frequency area image (see FIG. 14). FIG. 15 shows an image obtained when the sewing is performed based on the second embroidery data. FIG. 16 shows an image obtained by combining this image with an image obtained when the sewing is performed based on the first embroidery data.

In the first embodiment, the high-frequency area image and the low-frequency area image are converted into embroidery data by different methods. However, the second method of generating embroidery data is to convert the low-frequency area image into a predetermined shape. Break it down into multiple rectangular areas,
According to a method of creating data that can specify the color of the line segment in each area and the sewing order for each area as the second embroidery data,
First embroidery data can also be created. In that case, a rectangular area obtained by decomposing the high-frequency area image may be set smaller than a rectangular area obtained by decomposing the low-frequency area.

Further, the low-frequency area image is reduced to a plurality of colors used for embroidery (see FIG. 17), divided into areas for each color (see FIG. 18), and thereafter, the colors and sewing are performed for each area. The second embroidery data in which the order is determined may be created.
FIG. 19 shows an image obtained when the sewing is performed based on the second embroidery data. In this case, parameters other than the color (seam direction, thread density, etc.) in this case may use preset values or may be set arbitrarily by the user. FIG. 20 shows an image obtained by combining this image with an image obtained when the sewing is performed based on the first embroidery data.

In the first and second embodiments, an example is described in which the high-frequency region image and the low-frequency region image are extracted by using the Fourier transform. The method for performing this is not particularly limited. For example, the attribute values of all the pixels constituting the original image are examined, and a region composed of pixels having a difference in attribute value from an adjacent pixel among the pixels constituting the original image that is equal to or more than a predetermined value is defined as a high-frequency region. A method of extracting the image as an image and extracting a region formed of pixels having a color difference from an adjacent pixel smaller than a predetermined value as a low-frequency region image may be used. Alternatively, a method may be used in which the original image is converted into an image in which the amount of change in the attribute value is emphasized using a Laplacian filter, and the image is binarized with an arbitrary value to determine a region to be extracted.

In the first and second embodiments, an example is described in which two area images are extracted from the original image. However, three or more images may be extracted from the original image. . In this case, since the original image can be decomposed into more images, embroidery data that can sew an embroidery pattern that expresses in multiple stages from a portion that requires detailed sewing to a portion that does not require detailed sewing Can be created.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an embroidery data creation system

FIG. 2 is a connection diagram showing a waist configuration of the embroidery data creation system;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the embroidery data creation system according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an original image input from a scanner 5;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing predetermined high-frequency components extracted from an original image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a binarized image obtained by binarizing a high-frequency component with a predetermined value.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a high-frequency region image in which a region corresponding to a binarized image is extracted from an original image;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a low frequency region image obtained by deleting a high frequency region image from an original image.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an image when sewing is performed based on first embroidery data;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image when sewing is performed based on second embroidery data;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an image obtained by combining FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a high-frequency region extraction process performed by a CPU;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the embroidery data creation system according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an image obtained by converting a low-frequency region image into a mosaic image according to another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an image when sewing is performed based on second embroidery data;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an image obtained by synthesizing an image when sewing is performed based on first embroidery data in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an image in which a low-frequency region image is reduced in color according to another embodiment.

18 is a diagram showing an image obtained by dividing the image in FIG. 17 for each color.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an image when sewing is performed based on second embroidery data.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an image obtained by synthesizing an image when sewing is performed based on first embroidery data in FIG. 19;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... body, 2 ... mouse, 3 ... keyboard,
4 ... memory card connector, 5 ... scanner,
6 ... display device, 7 ... CPU, 8 ... RAM,
9 ... ROM, 10 ... input / output interface,
11: memory card, 100: embroidery data creation system, 200: embroidery data creation system.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An embroidery data creating system for creating embroidery data necessary for embroidering an original image based on the original image, wherein the original image is constituted by a plurality of pixels constituting the original image. A partial image data creating unit that creates partial image data that specifies each partial image when the original image is decomposed into two or more partial images based on frequency components; and the partial image data created by the partial image data creating unit. Small area group data creating means for creating small area group data specifying the plurality of small areas when each partial image specified by the partial image data is represented by the plurality of small areas based on the partial image data; Based on the small area group data created by the small area group data creating means, a plurality of small areas are each
An embroidery data creating system comprising embroidery data creating means for creating embroidery data necessary for sewing with the above stitches. 2. When the embroidery data creating means determines the color of each small area specified by the small area group data, a color calculation area of a fixed shape including the small area is determined for each small area. Set sequentially, in the color calculation area in the target small area where the color is to be determined, if there is no other small area in which the color has been determined, in the area corresponding to the color calculation area in the original image Based on the attribute value of the existing pixel,
The color of the target small area is determined. If the color calculation area of the target small area includes another small area whose color has been determined, the color of the other small area whose color has been determined. 2. The embroidery data according to claim 1, wherein a color of the target small area is determined based on the attribute value of a pixel existing in an area corresponding to the color calculation area in the original image. 3. Creation system. 3. The small area group data created based on any one of the two or more partial images, wherein the embroidery data sets the sewing order of the small area specified by the small area group data. 3. The embroidery data creating system according to claim 2, wherein the sewing order is determined at least for each small area of the same color regardless of whether the sewing order is smaller or smaller. 4. An embroidery data creation program for causing a computer system to execute a process of creating embroidery data required for embroidering the original image based on the original image, the program comprising: A partial image data creation procedure for creating partial image data for specifying each partial image when the original image is decomposed into two or more partial images based on frequency components constituting the original image for the pixels; Based on the partial image data created by the image data creating procedure, small area group data specifying the plurality of small areas when each partial image specified by the partial image data is represented by a plurality of small areas. A small area group data creation procedure to be created; and a plurality of the small areas based on the small area group data created by the small area group data creation procedure. Is 1
An embroidery data creation program for creating embroidery data necessary for sewing with the above stitches. 5. In the embroidery data creating procedure, a color of a small area specified by the small area group data is determined for each of the small area group data. A color calculation area of a fixed shape including an area is sequentially set, and in the color calculation area of the target small area whose color is to be determined, if there is no other small area whose color has been determined, the color calculation area of the original image Based on the attribute values of the pixels present in the area corresponding to the color calculation area,
The color of the target small area is determined. If the color calculation area of the target small area includes another small area whose color has been determined, the color of the other small area whose color has been determined. 5. The embroidery data creation method according to claim 4, wherein a color of the target small area is determined based on an attribute value of a pixel existing in an area corresponding to the color calculation area in the original image. program. 6. The small area group data created based on any one of the two or more partial images, wherein the embroidery data sets the sewing order of the small area specified by the small area group data. 6. The embroidery data creating program according to claim 5, wherein the sewing order is determined for at least each small area of the same color, regardless of whether or not the embroidery order is the same.