JP2003348314A - Image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience in the case of trimming printing by eliminating necessity to set a divided area to be the next print target every time in comparison with the printed result. <P>SOLUTION: The divided areas of an arbitrary number are set to partial or all areas to be stored in a CF 101, image data corresponding to each of the set divided areas are created by a print data creating part 105, and the image data are controlled to be continuously printed out in a printing apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

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, an image processing system, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium that can improve convenience in trimming printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a part of an image held by a camera is trimmed and printed, if the output paper size of one sheet of paper or the like is limited, trimming of the same trimming size is performed in adjacent areas. To print multiple pages and arrange the print output,
It is known to create panoramic images. In the prior art, the trimming setting is such that the printing is performed with the trimming setting set for each print output, and the print result is compared with the image on the display device, and the trimming setting of the same size is performed in the adjacent area and the printing is performed. And printing had to be repeated alternately.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when a plurality of print outputs formed of trimmings of the same size are arranged side by side to form a panoramic image, the trimming setting is made every time one sheet is printed. Had to be redone. Since printing requires a certain amount of time, the user must wait while printing is in progress, and must wait for the end of printing to set the next trimming. Also, when performing the next trimming setting while viewing the result of the previous trimming print, compare the printed paper etc. with the image displayed on the printing system while checking the trimming frame of the same size in the adjacent area. Setting must be performed, and there has been a problem that a printing system that is easy for the user to use has not been provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and has made it possible to reduce the trouble of performing trimming setting each time while comparing it with a print result, and to improve the convenience in trimming printing. It is an object to provide an apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an input means for inputting image data, and a partial or entire area of the image data. Setting means for setting an arbitrary number of divided areas with respect to image data, and print control means for continuously printing out image data corresponding to each of the divided areas set by the setting means to a printing apparatus. And

An image processing system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an image processing apparatus that generates image data to be output, and a printing apparatus that prints out the image data generated by the image processing apparatus. An image processing system comprising: an image processing apparatus comprising: an input unit configured to input image data; and a setting unit configured to set an arbitrary number of divided regions with respect to some or all of the image data. Wherein the printing apparatus continuously prints out image data corresponding to each of the divided areas set by the setting means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting image data by an input means; and arranging an arbitrary number of divided areas with respect to a part or all of the image data. Setting by a setting unit, and controlling by a print control unit to continuously output image data corresponding to each of the divided areas set by the setting unit to a printing apparatus. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a program causes a computer to execute the image processing method. Further, a computer-readable recording medium according to a fifth aspect of the present invention has the program recorded thereon.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an imaging unit that converts an optical image of a scene to be captured into an electronic image signal, and image data input from the imaging unit is recorded in the CF 101. The user performs various operations by operating the GUI operation unit 110. GUI operation unit 1
Reference numeral 10 is connected to the GUI control unit 107, which interprets the user's operation according to the situation, sends commands to each unit through the bus 104, and realizes the user's request.

In order to trim and print a recorded image, an image to be printed is selected and trimming is set. Specifically, the user operates the GUI operation unit 110,
Display the image selection screen. At this time, the user operation is interpreted by the GUI operation unit 107, and the GUI operation unit 107
To give an image display command. The image selection unit 106 issues an instruction to the IO control unit 102 to read out the currently selected image data. The IO control unit 102 reads the designated image data from the CF 101 and sends the image data to the display unit 108 via the bus 104. The display unit 108 displays the sent image data.

The user can select the display format of the screen on the GUI operation unit 107. There is a format in which one image is displayed using substantially the entirety of the display unit 108, and a format in which a plurality of reduced images are collectively displayed on the display unit 108 at the same time. If the format for displaying a plurality of images at a time has been selected, the image selection unit 106
Requests the IO control unit 102 for required image data, and sends the required image data to the display unit 108. Display unit 1
Select the image to print while viewing the image displayed in 08. If you want to print the currently displayed image, GUI operation unit 110
Is pressed, and then trimming is set.

The trimming is set on a screen as shown in FIG. With the image selected, the SET button on the GUI operation unit 110
When (not shown) is pressed, a print dialog as shown in FIG. By operating a cross key (not shown) of the GUI operation unit 110, a trimming button 501 is selected. When the SET button of the GUI operation unit 110 is pressed while the trimming button is selected, a trimming setting screen as shown in FIG.

On the trimming setting screen shown in FIG. 4, a trimming setting frame 401 is displayed over the selected image.
By operating the cross key of the GUI operation unit 110 up, down, left and right, the trimming setting frame can be moved up, down, left, and right on the image.
Further, when a WIDE key (not shown) of the GUI operation unit 110 is pressed, the size of the trimming setting frame can be increased. WIDE again when displaying the maximum trimming setting frame
Press the key to cancel trimming. Even after the release, the trimming information before the release is retained, so that the trimming data before the release can be called by resetting the trimming. TELE of GUI operation part 110
By pressing a key (not shown), the size of the trimming setting frame can be reduced. When a DISPLAY key (not shown) of the GUI operation unit 110 is pressed, the trimming setting frame can be rotated by 90 degrees.

FIG. 6 shows how the trimming frame is divided into small rectangular areas in a grid. First, a trimming frame corresponding to one sheet of print output paper is displayed (601).
When the right button (not shown) of the cross key is pressed while pressing the JUMP key (not shown) of the UI operation unit 110, the trimming frame is enlarged rightward and divided into two rectangular areas (602). Further, when the right button of the cross key is pressed while pressing the JUMP key (not shown) of the GUI operation unit 110, the trimming frame is expanded rightward, and the trimming frame is divided into three rectangular areas (604). In addition, GUI
If the user presses the up button of the cross key while pressing the JUMP key (not shown) of the operation unit 110, the trimming frame is expanded upward, and the trimming frame is divided into six rectangular areas (605).

As described above, when the right button, left button, up button, or down button of the cross key is pressed while pressing the JUMP key (not shown) of the GUI operation unit 110, the trimming frame expands in each direction. Divide into rectangular areas in the directions. Further, by pressing a DISPLAY button (not shown) from the state of the trimming frame shown in 602, vertical trimming can be performed as shown in 603. After setting the trimming position, size, length and width to a desired state, pressing a MENU key (not shown) of the GUI operation unit 110 determines the trimming setting.

If the trimming setting is repeated, the GUI operation unit 1
When the MENU key (not shown) of 10 is pressed, the trimming setting is completed, and the print dialog of FIG. GU while the print dialog of Fig. 5 is displayed
By operating the cross key of the I operation unit 110 to select the print button 502 and pressing the SET button of the GUI operation unit 110, printing is performed according to the trimming setting.

When print execution is instructed, the print data generation unit 105 generates print data. The print data generation unit 105 reads the currently selected image data from the CF 101 via the IO control unit 102 through the image selection unit 106, reads the trimming data from the data holding unit 103, and cuts out a necessary area from the image data according to the trimming data. . The cut image data is converted into data suitable for the connected printer device, and is sent to the printer device via the communication unit 109.

A printer (not shown) executes printing according to the transmitted print data. When printing of one sheet is completed, data for the next print is continuously created according to the trimming setting, print data is similarly sent to the printer device, and the next print is executed according to the trimming setting. Repeat until all printing is completed in the trimming settings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of trimming data stored when trimming is set in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The trimming data is a structure composed of 11 members, each member having a data length of 4 bytes. The trimming setting flag 201 can take two values, true or false. If it is true, it indicates that the contents of the remaining members of the trimming data structure shown in FIG. 2 are meaningful, while if false, it means that the contents of the remaining members are whatever. do not have. Therefore, if the trimming setting flag 201 is false, it is treated that trimming has not been set.

The trimming release flag 202 is true or false 2
Can take a value. If true, it indicates that the trimming setting has been released. The state where the trimming setting flag 201 is true and the trimming release flag 202 is true,
Although the trimming setting has been made and all members of the trimming data structure shown in FIG. 2 hold meaningful values, the trimming itself has been released.
If the trimming release flag 202 is true at the time of printing, trimming printing is not performed, and printing without trimming is executed.

Reference numeral 203 denotes a print mode when trimming is set. The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has three print modes: bordered, borderless, and divided sticker paper, and each has a different aspect ratio of a printed image. If you do not set trimming with the same aspect ratio as the print result, the print result will be different from the area enclosed by the trimming frame or the divided rectangular area.
It is necessary to hold the print mode at the time of trimming setting as trimming data.

The paper type 204 indicates the paper size when trimming is set. When the print mode 203 is borderless or divided seal paper, the image aspect ratio of the print result differs depending on the paper type. Therefore, it is necessary to hold the paper type as trimming data for the same reason as the print type 203. However, in the present embodiment, a situation in which a plurality of print outputs are arranged in a borderless print is taken into consideration. Therefore, when a plurality of prints are designated in advance, it can be fixed as a borderless print.

The trimming x-coordinate 205 indicates the x-coordinate on the image of the upper left corner of the entire trimming frame. Trimming y
A coordinate 206 indicates the y coordinate on the image of the upper left corner of the entire trimming frame. The trimming x-coordinate 205 and the trimming y-coordinate 206 indicate the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate of the trimming frame at the upper left of the entire frame in the case of a plurality of adjacent trimming frames. The trimming width 207 indicates the horizontal length of one trimming frame. The trimming height 208 indicates the vertical length of one trimming frame. The x direction trimming number 209 indicates the number of trimmings in the x direction. The y-direction trimming number 210 indicates the number of trimmings in the y-direction. When the number of trimmings in the x direction 209 and the number of trimmings in the y direction 210 are only one, there is only one trimming frame.
Each one is recorded. In the case of 605 in FIG. 6, the x-direction trimming number 209 is 3, and the y-direction trimming number 210 is 2.

In 601 of FIG. 6, the trimming frame is not divided, and the number of trimmings 209 in the x direction and the number of trimmings 210 in the y direction are
Each becomes 1. When the state changes from 601 to 602, the trimming frame is divided into two rectangular areas in a grid pattern, and the number of trimmings 209 in the x direction becomes 2 by adding one. When the state changes from 602 to 604, the trimming frame is divided into three rectangular areas in a grid pattern, and the number of trimmings in the x direction is incremented by one, and the number becomes three. When the state changes from 604 to 605, the trimming frame is divided into six rectangular regions in a grid pattern, and the number of trimmings 209 in the x direction remains three, and the number of trimmings 210 in the y direction is increased by one to two. Trimming x coordinate 205 and trimming y coordinate 2
From 06, a trimming frame having a width of (trimming width 207 × number of trimmings in the x direction 209) and a height of (trimming height 208 × number of trimmings in the y direction 210), and (trimming number of x direction 209 × y)
Since a small rectangular area in the form of a divided grid consisting of 210) trimming widths 207 and trimming heights 208 is displayed with hatching lines, the print result for each output sheet according to the trimming setting can be understood.

Therefore, by examining the trimming data structure, the number of prints set for trimming and the position and size of each trimming setting can be known.

Image number 211 indicates which image the trimming data structure of FIG. 2 is for. In the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, a plurality of the same image numbers do not exist at the same time, and one image number is indicated by the image number. After selecting the image to print and setting the trimming for the selected image,
If the trimming setting has already been made for the target image, that is, if the trimming setting flag 201 in FIG. 2 is true, the trimming setting screen is displayed according to the setting.
Display at 108. At this time, the size, position, length and width of the trimming frame to be displayed, and each of the rectangular areas obtained by dividing the trimming frame into a grid shape are based on the read trimming data. If the trimming data has not been stored, the trimming data is not read out, a default trimming frame is generated, and displayed on the display unit 108.

In the trimming setting screen shown in FIG.
When the “U” button is pressed, the trimming setting is completed, and the printing can be started. Further, when printing is instructed by the user, printing is started. FIG.
If the trimming frame is divided into a grid-shaped rectangular area from the trimming data, the grid is calculated from the coordinate positions of the trimming x coordinate 205 and the trimming y coordinate 206, the trimming width 207, and the trimming height 208. The x and y coordinates of each rectangular area can be found.

In the printing, an image having the size and position calculated from the trimming data is cut out for each rectangular area obtained by dividing the trimming frame into a grid from the image having the image number 211, and is converted into print data. This is realized by transmitting data to the printer device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a trimming print process using the trimming data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. (30) In step 1, 0 is substituted for the variables i and j. If the variable i is smaller than the number of trimmings 209 in the x direction (302) and the variable j is smaller than the number of trimmings 210 in the y direction (303), x coordinate = trimming x coordinate 205+ (i ×
Trimming width 207), y coordinate = trimming y coordinate 206 + (j ×
A trimming print including a trimming height 208), a trimming width 207, and a trimming height 208 is executed (304).

When one trimming print is completed,
1 is added to the variable j (305), and the variable j is the number of trimming in the y direction.
While 210 is smaller (303), trimming printing (304) is repeated. If the variable j is equal to the y-direction trimming 210, 1 is added to the variable i and 0 is substituted for the variable j (306).
In this way, the trimming print is continuously executed until the variable i becomes equal to the x-direction trimming number 209.

In the above-described embodiment, in a print system in which a camera and a printer are connected, an area designated for trimming is cut out from image data stored in the camera, and print data interpretable by the printer is generated.
This is transmitted to a printer device, and the printer device performs printing in accordance with the transmitted print data.

In a printer having the function of the print data generation unit 105 in the above embodiment, the image data itself read from the CF 101 and the trimming read from the data holding unit 103 are generated without generating print data in the camera. The data is transmitted to the printer device via the communication unit 109, and based on the image data and the trimming data transmitted by the printer device, the area designated for trimming is cut out from the image data, and the data necessary for printing is obtained from the cut data. It is also possible to perform generation and printing, and the effect of the present invention can be sufficiently exerted by either method.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention,
When creating a panoramic image by arranging a plurality of print outputs in adjacent areas and trimming of the same size, it is possible to perform trimming settings of an image group corresponding to a small rectangular area in a grid with a simple operation, This makes it possible to continuously print one image of each of these image groups by a single print operation, so that there is an effect that the trimming setting can be performed collectively in advance without waiting during printing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus.
Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the PU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
Etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an arbitrary number of divided areas are set for a partial area or all of the image data, and the image data corresponding to each of the divided areas is set. Since continuous printing is made possible, it is not necessary to set the next divided area to be printed each time while comparing the result with the print result, thereby making it possible to improve convenience in, for example, trimming printing.

Further, according to the present invention, since image data corresponding to each divided area is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the printing apparatus, it is not necessary for the printing apparatus to perform cutting out and trimming of image data, and the like. The continuous printing of the image data corresponding to the divided area becomes possible.

Further, according to the present invention, since information and image data relating to the divided areas are transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus generates image data corresponding to each divided area, and Continuous printing becomes possible. Therefore, the information needs to be transferred from the image processing apparatus to the printing apparatus only once, and the network resources can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating trimming data generated by an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a trimming print process using trimming data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a screen for performing trimming setting displayed on the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a screen displayed on the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention for executing printing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a manner in which a trimming setting is divided into a grid on a screen displayed on the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 CF 102 IO control unit 103 Data comparison unit 104 bus 105 Print Data Generation Unit 106 Image selection unit 107 GUI control unit 108 Display 109 Communication unit 110 GUI operation unit 201 to 211 Each member of trimming data 401 Trimming frame 501 Trimming button 502 Print button

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    F term (reference) 2C187 AD13 AE01 BF42 CC09 CD12                       CD17 DB27 DB58                 5B021 AA30 CC07 LE00                 5B057 AA11 BA02 BA24 CC03 CD05                       CE09 CE10                 5C076 AA02 AA14 AA17 AA21 AA36                       CA02

Claims (8)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting image data; a setting unit for setting an arbitrary number of divided regions for a part or all of the image data; and each of the divided regions set by the setting unit And a print control means for causing the printing device to continuously output image data corresponding to the image data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets each rectangular area obtained by dividing a part or the whole of the image data in a grid shape as the divided area. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit sequentially transmits image data corresponding to each of the divided areas to the printing apparatus. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit transmits information on the divided area and the image data generated by the setting unit to the printing apparatus.
Or the image processing apparatus according to 2. 5. An image processing system, comprising: an image processing device that generates image data to be output; and a printing device that prints out the image data generated by the image processing device. Has input means for inputting image data, and setting means for setting an arbitrary number of divided areas for a part or all of the image data, and the printing apparatus is set by the setting means. An image processing system for continuously printing out image data corresponding to each of the divided areas. 6. A step of inputting image data by an input unit, a step of setting an arbitrary number of divided regions for a part or all of the image data by a setting unit, and setting by the setting unit. Controlling the printing control means to continuously output the image data corresponding to each of the divided areas to a printing apparatus by printing. 7. A program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 6. 8. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.