JP2004042394A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform image synthesis according to an information file describing the content concerning to an image. <P>SOLUTION: A PC card is recorded with a plurality of images and an information file describing the content concerning these images. When an image being synthesized is selected from the PC card by operating an operating section 101 and image synthesis setting is performed for the selected image, the content concerning the synthesis image thus set is added to the information file of the PC card. Image synthesis is then performed according to the content concerning the synthesis image in the information file of the PC card. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a method capable of printing an electrophotographic image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some electronic devices that handle electrophotographic images, such as digital cameras and digital photo editing apparatuses, have a format for recording print designation information on a recording medium on a removable medium storing the electrophotographic images. It is known that print specification information described in a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) can be stored. A DPOF file storing the print specification information is used for performing batch printing processing in a laboratory print service. ing.
[0003]
Further, the DPOF file can be used in a home personal printer. According to this printer, the electronic photographic image stored in the removable medium is converted into the print designation information of the DPOF file stored in the removable medium. Can be printed directly.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the print specification based on the print specification information of the DPOF file is merely an extension of the print specification of a photographic paper photograph, such as simply printing one image on one sheet in a standard print format.
(1) A plurality of electronic images photographed on a recording medium are combined to obtain a printing effect like a composite photograph.
(2) A more effective print result is obtained by multiplying the photographed image by an image of another recording medium in which image materials are collected.
(3) A predetermined print format such as a report is overlay-printed on the photographed image to complete the report creation.
In order to perform such a process, it is necessary to perform a printing process again after performing an image synthesizing process using another electronic device such as a personal computer using dedicated software.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and method capable of solving the above-described problems and combining and printing images stored in a recording medium.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selection unit for selecting an image to be subjected to image synthesis from images stored in a recording medium, and a designation unit for designating an image synthesis process from a plurality of predetermined image synthesis processes. Storing means for storing an image identifier of the image selected by the selecting means, and information relating to the image synthesizing process specified by the specifying means; and an image identifier and an image synthesizing stored in the storing means during printing. Image synthesizing processing means for performing an image synthesizing process in accordance with information relating to the processing.
[0007]
In claim 1, the recording medium can be a reamable bubble medium.
[0008]
In claim 1, the selecting means can select an image from each of a plurality of recording media.
[0009]
In claim 1, the specifying means can specify the print density.
[0010]
In claim 1, the specifying means can specify a background image and a transparent image.
[0011]
In the first aspect, the specifying means can specify a layer for a plurality of images.
[0012]
In claim 1, the designating means is capable of designating positions for a plurality of images.
[0013]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, when an image to be subjected to image synthesis is selected from images stored in a recording medium and an image synthesis process is designated from a plurality of predetermined image synthesis processes, the image identifier of the selected image is determined. And a storing step of storing information relating to the designated image combining processing, and an image combining processing step of performing image combining processing in accordance with the stored image identifier and the information relating to the image combining processing during printing. And
[0014]
In claim 8, the recording medium can be a reamable bubble medium.
[0015]
In claim 8, the image to be used for image synthesis may be an image from a plurality of recording media.
[0016]
In claim 8, the image synthesizing process may be a designation of a print density.
[0017]
In claim 8, the image synthesizing process may be a specification of a background image and a specification of a transparent image.
[0018]
In the eighth aspect, the image synthesizing process can be a layer designation for a plurality of images.
[0019]
In claim 8, the image synthesizing process may be a position designation for a plurality of images.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of an image processing device. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 104 denotes a ROM which stores a program for executing various processes, in addition to a main program for controlling the processes of the entire image processing apparatus, and which is related to a DPOF file reading process and an analysis process. And a program for controlling the operation unit 101 are also stored.
[0022]
Reference numeral 103 denotes a CPU that executes various control programs stored in the ROM 104 and performs processing for writing and referencing data in the RAM 107 as necessary. Further, after transferring a part or all of the program stored in the ROM 104 to the RAM 107, the CPU 103 may operate based on the program in the RAM 107.
[0023]
Reference numeral 107 denotes a RAM, which is based on parameter setting information input from the operation unit 101, information related to printing such as print processing selection information for the printer unit 108, the contents of the DPOF file, and a result of analyzing the result and the analysis result. Various kinds of parameter information and data such as print data to be read, temporary storage of the image file itself read from the card reading unit 105, and the like are stored, and the CPU 103 refers to and rewrites the data as needed. In addition, it is used as a buffer memory and a work memory necessary for performing image processing.
[0024]
An operation unit 101 includes a display device for displaying information necessary for selecting a function, and input devices such as keys for selecting a function and performing a print execution instruction. Reference numeral 102 denotes an interface unit, which is an interface unit for reading information recorded on a recording medium, and reads information recorded on a PC card via a card reading unit 105. In addition, instead of the card reading unit 105, another recording medium reading unit, for example, a magneto-optical disk reading unit or the like is replaced or added to the interface unit 102, so that the contents recorded on various recording media can be read widely. It is possible.
[0025]
The card reading unit 105 performs a reading process on a PC card, for example, a Flash memory card set in the image processing apparatus, and stores the read contents in the RAM 107 via the interface unit 102 or via the RAM 107 The image data is directly sent to the printer unit 108 via the image processing unit 106 without being processed. The card reading unit 105 indicates that the recording medium is being accessed, such as reading information from the recording medium to the image processing apparatus or vice versa, that is, writing information from the image processing apparatus to the recording medium. LED may be provided. Further, it is also possible to perform a process of writing the information stored in the RAM 107 directly or partially or entirely to a recording medium in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 101.
[0026]
Reading of a DPOF file and reading (or writing) of an electronic image are performed via the card reading unit 105.
[0027]
Reference numeral 106 denotes an image processing unit which performs image processing on the image data for printing expanded in the RAM 107 or the image data directly read from the card reading unit 105 so that the printer unit 108 can optimally perform a printing process. Things.
[0028]
A printer unit 108 prints image data transferred from the image processing unit 106, and is provided with various printing units such as a thermal inkjet system, an electrophotographic system, a dot impact system, and a sublimation thermal transfer system. ing.
[0029]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing program stored in the ROM 104 of FIG. When the power is turned on, the process starts, and an initialization process is performed (S202). Next, it is checked whether or not the recording medium is set in the card reading unit 105 (S203). If the recording medium is not set, the process waits for the recording medium to be inserted until the recording medium is set. If the recording medium is waiting to be inserted, the fact is displayed on the operation unit 101.
[0030]
On the other hand, if the recording medium is set, the DPOF file stored in the recording medium is read (S204). The function mode is set according to the DPOF file. Next, regardless of the DPOF file, the print parameters set as default values by the image processing apparatus are set (S205). The default print parameters include, for example, physical characteristics of the printer unit 108, that is, information on a printable area, usable paper size, and the like.
[0031]
When the print setting is completed based on the DPOF and the default print parameters of the device, a panel display is performed (S207). On the panel of the operation unit 101, thumbnail images stored in a recording medium are displayed as shown in FIG. Here, when not all images can be displayed on the panel of the operation unit 101 in one screen, the display is switched by key input or the like. If the operation unit 101 is a device that cannot display an image, the file name of the image may be displayed.
[0032]
When the panel display processing is completed, the apparatus enters a key input waiting state (S209). When the operation unit 101 has a touch panel function, input from the touch panel is also effective in addition to key input.
[0033]
When a key is input, the entered key is determined, and subsequent processing is performed based on the determined key input. Then, an operation unit display and processing for changing the print layout and the template processing of the print layout layout, which are conventional, are performed (S211).
[0034]
When the print execution key is selected, an operation unit display for setting the print execution mode is performed (S212), and the setting change of the number of prints, the change of the print density setting, the change of the print paper size, the setting of the margin, etc. can be performed. . Thereafter, by instructing the start of printing from the operation unit 101, the printing process is started (S213). The printing process will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0035]
When the image synthesis mode is selected, an operation screen for setting the image synthesis mode is displayed on the operation unit 101 (S210). Processing in the image synthesis mode will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0036]
When the process corresponding to the various key inputs is selected, the execution result is displayed on the operation unit 101 in order to reflect the execution result on the operation unit 101 (S207). After that, the key wait state is set again (S208), and the processing corresponding to the next key input is repeatedly executed. If the recording medium is ejected from the card reading unit 105 during a series of processing, the recording medium is checked (S203), and the processing is looped again until the recording medium is inserted.
[0037]
If the power-off key is selected in S209, the end processing of the image processing apparatus is performed (S214), and then the processing ends.
[0038]
The power-off key may be received during a series of processes. If the power OFF key is selected and there is content to be recorded on the recording medium, a selection screen for whether or not to write information may be displayed on the operation unit 101.
[0039]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of the ROM 104 in FIG. The ROM 104 stores image processing program modules shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, image synthesis processing program modules shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, default image data and font data, arrangement layout information, and a flowchart of FIG. A print execution processing program module, other program modules, and other various parameter information are stored.
[0040]
As a medium for supplying the program module, in addition to the ROM 104, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory, and the like are used. It can be used.
[0041]
Further, when performing the process of turning on the power, it is also possible to temporarily store the program modules and various parameters from the above-described recording medium in the RAM 107, and perform the process while the CPU 103 refers to the RAM 107.
[0042]
Next, S210 of FIG. 2 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. An image combining process of the image 311 of the recording medium 1 in FIG. 3A and the image 323 of the recording medium 2 in FIG. 3B will be described. In the image composition mode, a list of image files recorded on the recording medium 1 is displayed (S402). If a list cannot be displayed due to the limitation of the operation unit 101, a method of scrolling and displaying an image by key input or the like from the operation unit 101 or displaying only the file name of the image may be used.
[0043]
Then, it waits for a key input from the operation unit 101 (S403). The image to be subjected to the image synthesis processing is selected by image selection (S404). Here, it is assumed that the image 311 is selected.
[0044]
Template registration for designating image synthesis processing at the time of printing is performed (S405). A plurality of registrations to the template may be prepared. Note that registration to a template is performed after image selection and mode setting.
[0045]
An image synthesis processing mode for the image selected in S404 is selected (S406). The contents to be selected include, for example, when combining a plurality of images, a layer designation for determining the priority of superimposing images, a designation of transparent combination for transparently combining a background image, and an image for image combination. Can be selected.
[0046]
When the setting of all the image synthesizing is completed, the synthesizing setting is ended (S407), and the image synthesizing setting of the recording medium 1 is once completed.
[0047]
In the end process of S407, the image 311 of the recording medium 1 on which the image synthesis is to be performed and the registered template information are temporarily recorded in the RAM 107 for the sake of simplicity. Instead, the template information set in S405 may be written out on the DPOF file of the recording medium 1, and the image 311 and the template information may be read again from the recording medium 1 at the time of the actual print processing.
[0048]
Next, the recording medium is changed from the recording medium 1 to the recording medium 2, and the process is again shifted to the image combining mode.
[0049]
Similarly, in step S404, the image 323 is selected, and in step S406, the image synthesis processing mode is similarly selected. After that, in S405, it is set as additional recording information in the template registration previously registered for the recording medium 1.
[0050]
In order to simplify the explanation, in the termination processing (S407), the image 323 of the recording medium 1 to be subjected to image synthesis and the registered template information are temporarily recorded in the RAM 107, but are not stored in the RAM 107. Alternatively, the template information set in S405 may be written out on the DPOF file of the recording medium 2, and the image 323 and the template information may be read from the recording medium 2 again at the time of the actual print processing.
[0051]
Thus, the setting of the image synthesis mode is completed.
[0052]
Next, S212 of FIG. 2 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. When the print execution mode setting is selected, a setting is made as to whether or not to perform normal print processing (S601). When performing image processing, the above-described template registered for the image processing is selected. Then, it is determined whether the printing is the composite printing (S602).
[0053]
In the case of image synthesis printing, the contents of the template are read, and an image file to be synthesized is set (S603). Next, an image to be synthesized is read (S604). In this example, the images 311 and 323 correspond.
[0054]
Then, an image combining process of the image 311 and the image 323 is performed (S605). As for the parameters for synthesizing the image, the contents of the mode setting (registered in the template) set in S406 of FIG. 4 are used, and the image processing unit 106 is used for the CPU 103 or a part of the image synthesizing process. Perform processing.
[0055]
After the image synthesizing process, the image developing process is performed based on other print parameters such as the number of print copies and margin settings (S606). The developed image is printed by the printer unit 108. When the development of the image to be printed is completed, this processing is exited in the return processing (S607), and the printing processing is performed in 201 in FIG.
[0056]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S602 that the image is not an image composite print, the process advances to step S606.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the electronic apparatus is configured as described above, a plurality of electronic images photographed on a recording medium can be combined to obtain a print effect like a composite photograph, and the photographed image can be obtained. Can be multiplied by an image of another recording medium in which image materials are collected to obtain a more effective print result, and a predetermined print format such as a report can be overlay-printed on the photographed image. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing program stored in a ROM 104 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an operation unit 101.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating S210 of FIG. 2 in more detail.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a memory map of a ROM 104;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating S212 of FIG. 2 in more detail.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 operation unit 102 interface 103 CPU
104 ROM
105 Card reading unit 106 Image processing unit 107 RAM
108 Printer section

Claims (14)

Selecting means for selecting an image to be subjected to image synthesis from images stored in a recording medium,
Designation means for designating an image combining process from a plurality of predetermined image combining processes;
Storing means for storing an image identifier of the image selected by the selecting means, and information on the image synthesizing process specified by the specifying means;
A printing apparatus, comprising: image printing processing means for performing image synthesis processing according to information on an image identifier and image synthesis processing stored in the storage means at the time of printing. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a reamable bubble medium. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit is capable of selecting an image from a plurality of recording media. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit is capable of specifying a print density. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit is capable of specifying a background image and a transparent image. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit is capable of specifying a layer for a plurality of images. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit is capable of specifying positions for a plurality of images. When an image to be subjected to image synthesis is selected from the images stored in the recording medium and an image synthesis process is specified from a plurality of predetermined image synthesis processes, an image identifier of the selected image and the specified image synthesis A store step for storing information about the processing;
An image synthesizing step of performing image synthesizing processing according to stored image identifiers and information on the image synthesizing processing at the time of printing. 9. The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the recording medium is a reamable bubble medium. 9. The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the image used for the image synthesis is an image from a plurality of recording media. 9. The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the image synthesizing process is a designation of a print density. 9. The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the image synthesizing process is a designation of a background image and a designation of a transparent image. 9. The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the image combining process is a layer designation for a plurality of images. 9. The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the image synthesizing process is a position designation for a plurality of images.

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