JP2004077927A - Image forming/processing apparatus and image forming/processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form an image wherein three-dimensional emphasis processing is applied on the outline part like oil painting. <P>SOLUTION: As for a color printer capable of forming a stereoscopic image on a recording paper X by forming a foam toner image formed of foam toner on a recording paper based on information on an object to be printed, and then, forming a color toner image formed of non-foam color toner on the foam toner image, the outline part of the image in an area as an object to be printed is extracted out of the image information by an image processing part 12, then, the foam toner formation quantity for the extracted outline part is calculated, and a foam toner image forming signal is generated, and then, the signal is outputted to the following image forming means A5, then, the image with the three-dimensionally enhanced outline part is formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming processing apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine to which an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method capable of forming a three-dimensional image by using a foamable toner, and in particular, to a visually three-dimensional image. The present invention relates to an image forming processing method and an image forming processing apparatus capable of creating a three-dimensional print on which a high image is printed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine of an electrophotographic type or an electrostatic recording type forms an image such as black and white or full-color characters or figures, or a photograph on a recording medium such as recording paper in a planar manner. In general, the image formed on the recording medium is visually recognized and used to transmit desired information.
[0003]
On the other hand, if the image information can be expressed three-dimensionally, there is an effect of increasing the sense of reality and reality, and it is also possible to use tactile information. As image information such as character information such as Braille and a map representing the terrain, for example, a three-dimensional print by an electrophotographic method, such as Japanese Patent Application No. 10-304458 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-134006, has been proposed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
2. Description of the Related Art Prints made using a conventional image forming apparatus have achieved high image quality by faithfully reproducing and the like. On the other hand, in image formation using paint, especially in oil painting, a technique of using a three-dimensional expression by changing the amount of paint is used as one means of expression. Such a technique is used for emphasizing not only a three-dimensional effect but also a dynamism and power. However, it has been impossible to use such a technique in an image forming apparatus such as a normal printer because a three-dimensional representation cannot be made.
[0005]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming processing method and an image forming processing apparatus capable of forming an image in which a contour portion is subjected to a three-dimensional enhancement process like an oil painting. is there.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 forms an expandable toner image made of an expandable toner on recording paper based on image information to be printed, and forms a non-foamable image on the expandable toner image. An image forming processing method capable of forming a three-dimensional image on the recording paper by forming a color toner image composed of color toner, wherein an outline of an image in a print target area is extracted from the image information, The amount of the foamable toner to be formed with respect to the extracted contour portion is adjusted to form an image in which the contour portion is three-dimensionally enhanced.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an image in which the outline is three-dimensionally enhanced is formed by forming an expandable toner image using the expandable toner only on the extracted outline. It is characterized by doing.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the contour portion is formed by forming a fixed number of lines along the line of the extracted contour portion with a foamable toner image using the foamable toner. It is characterized by forming a three-dimensionally emphasized image.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the amount of the foamable toner with respect to the extracted outline is adjusted to form an image in which the outline is three-dimensionally enhanced. A color toner image is further formed on the foamable toner image formed in the portion to further emphasize the outline portion.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a color toner comprising a non-foamable color toner is formed on a recording paper based on image information to be printed, the foamable toner image comprising a foamable toner. An image forming processing method capable of forming a three-dimensional image on the recording paper by forming an image, extracting a specific area portion in a print target area from the image information, A contour portion is extracted, and an image in which the contour portion is three-dimensionally enhanced is formed by adjusting the amount of the foamable toner formed with respect to the extracted contour portion.
[0011]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color toner comprising a non-foamable color toner formed on a foaming toner image on a recording sheet based on image information to be printed. An image forming processing apparatus capable of forming a three-dimensional image on the recording paper by forming an image, comprising: extracting means for extracting a contour portion of an image in a print target area from the image information; Image forming means for adjusting the formation amount of the foamable toner with respect to the contour extracted by the above-described method to form an image in which the contour is three-dimensionally enhanced.
[0012]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the image forming unit forms the expandable toner image with the expandable toner only on the outline extracted by the extracting unit. Is formed in such a manner that an image in which is stereoscopically emphasized is formed.
[0013]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the image forming means draws a certain number of lines along the contour line extracted by the extracting means with the foamable toner image by the foamable toner. By forming the image, an image in which the contour portion is three-dimensionally enhanced is formed.
[0014]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the image forming unit adjusts the amount of the foamable toner formed on the contour extracted by the extracting unit to three-dimensionally emphasize the contour. And forming a color toner image further emphasizing the outline on the foamable toner image formed on the outline.
[0015]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color toner comprising a foamable toner image formed of a foamable toner on a recording sheet based on image information to be printed, and a non-foamable color toner formed on the foamable toner image. An image forming processing apparatus capable of forming a three-dimensional image on the recording paper by forming an image, a specific area extracting unit for extracting a specific area part in a print target area from the image information, Contour extracting means for extracting a contour in a specific area extracted by the means, and an image in which the contour is three-dimensionally enhanced by adjusting the formation amount of the foamable toner with respect to the contour extracted by the contour extracting. And an image forming means for forming the image.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system 100 including a tandem-type color printer as an image forming processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes a color printer 1 and a client terminal 2 connected to a computer network 3.
[0019]
Here, the color printer 1 creates a three-dimensional print based on the print data (image information and print instruction information) sent from the client terminal 2. That is, a three-dimensional print in which a three-dimensional effect is given to the three-dimensional object image is created by forming a raised portion on a recording paper with a thermally foamable toner containing at least a binder resin and a foaming agent based on image information. .
[0020]
Specifically, the color printer 1 inputs the print data sent from the client terminal 2 to the image processing unit 12 via the controller unit 11. Then, the image processing unit 12 performs image processing such as L * a * b * color space conversion processing, color correction processing, gradation correction processing, and output signal synthesis processing on the image information of the input print data.
[0021]
The image data subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing unit 12 as described above includes yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) for a non-foamable color toner. A laser scanning optical device (ROS: Raster Output Scanner) (hereinafter simply referred to as “ROS”) corresponding to each color as color material gradation data of four colors and white (WH) color material of thermally foamable toner. .) Are sent to 13a to 13e. Then, in the ROSs 13a to 13e, image exposure with laser light is performed according to the color material gradation data.
[0022]
By the way, inside the color printer 1, image forming means A1 to A4 capable of forming a plurality (four colors) of different color toner images and image forming means capable of forming a toner image of a thermally foamable toner (white). Means A5 is provided. These image forming units A1 to A5 mainly include ROSs 13a to 13e as image exposing units, photoconductor drums 14a to 14e as image carriers on which electrostatic latent images are formed, and photoconductor drums 14a to 14e. Developing devices 15a to 15e capable of developing a plurality of toner images of different colors by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on 14e.
[0023]
The ROSs 13a to 13e modulate a semiconductor laser (not shown) according to the original reproduction color material gradation data, and emit laser light LB from the semiconductor laser according to the gradation data. The laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser is deflected and scanned by a rotating polygon mirror (not shown), and is scanned and exposed on a photosensitive drum 14 as an image carrier via an f · θ lens and a reflection mirror (not shown).
[0024]
The photoreceptor drums 14a to 14e to which the laser light LB is scanned and exposed by the ROSs 13a to 13e are driven to rotate at a predetermined speed in a direction indicated by an arrow by driving means (not shown). After the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e are charged in advance to predetermined polarities (for example, negative polarities) and potentials by scorotrons 16a to 16e for primary charging, the laser light LB is irradiated with laser light LB in accordance with color material gradation data. An electrostatic latent image is formed by the scanning exposure. After the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e are uniformly charged to, for example, -650 V, the image portion is scanned and exposed to laser light LB to form an electrostatic latent image having an exposed portion of -200 V. You. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e are four-color developing units of non-foamable color toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK). For example, reverse development is performed by a toner (charged color material) charged to a negative polarity having the same polarity as the charged polarity of the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e by the white developing units 15b to 15e of the thermally foamable toner 15a and white (WH). Thus, a toner image T of a predetermined color is obtained. At this time, for example, a developing bias voltage of -500 V is applied to the developing rolls of the developing units 15a to 15e. The toner image T formed on the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e is charged with a negative polarity by a pre-transfer charger (not shown) as necessary, and the charge amount is adjusted.
[0025]
The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt 18 as an intermediate transfer member disposed below the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e as a first transfer unit. Multiple transfer is performed by primary transfer rolls 19a to 19e. The intermediate transfer belt 18 is supported by, for example, a driving roll 20, a driven roll 21, and a tension roll 22 so as to be rotatable in the arrow direction at the same moving speed as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e. .
[0026]
On the intermediate transfer belt 18, the colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) are formed on the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e according to the color of the image to be formed. The color toner image of all or a part of the four colors and the thermally foamable toner (white) image are transferred by the primary transfer roll 19 in a state of being sequentially superimposed. That is, in this case, the color toner is multiplex-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18 in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK). The foamable toner is multiply transferred.
[0027]
Then, the toner image T transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18 is transferred to a secondary transfer position, that is, a position of a secondary transfer roll 23 at a predetermined timing, on a recording paper X as a recording medium which is conveyed by the intermediate transfer. The transfer is performed by the pressing force and the electrostatic attraction force of the tension roll 22 that supports the belt 18 and the secondary transfer roll 23 that constitutes a part of the second transfer unit that presses against the tension roll 22.
[0028]
The recording paper X is fed by a feed roll 25 at a predetermined size from a plurality of paper feed trays 24 serving as recording medium storage members. The fed recording paper X is transported by the plurality of transport rolls 26 to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined timing, that is, the position of the secondary transfer roll.
[0029]
As described above, a toner image of a predetermined color is collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 to the recording paper 24 by the tension roll 22 and the secondary transfer roll 23 as secondary transfer means. It has become so.
[0030]
The recording paper X on which the toner image of a predetermined color has been transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 18 and then conveyed to a fixing unit 27 where the heating roll 271 of the fixing unit 27 is heated. Then, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper X by heat and pressure by the pressure roll 272, and then discharged to the discharge tray 28 outside the color printer 1 to complete the three-dimensional color image forming process. More specifically, the fixing unit 27 heat-fixes the recording paper on which the toner image made of the heat-foamable toner and the color toner image made of the non-foamable color toner are transferred, so that the recording is performed. The thermally foamable toner on the paper is foamed to form a three-dimensional image, and the color toner image of the non-foamable color toner on the recording paper is fused and fixed.
[0031]
The cleaning devices 29a to 29e included in the image forming units A1 to A5 remove residual toner, paper dust, and the like from the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 14a to 14e after the transfer process is completed. The cleaner 30 provided near the intermediate transfer belt 18 cleans the intermediate transfer belt 18. Further, the cleaner 31 provided near the secondary transfer roll 23 cleans the secondary transfer roll 23.
[0032]
The intermediate transfer belt cleaner 30 and the secondary transfer roll cleaner 31 are configured to come into contact with and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined timing.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the image forming units A1 to A5 include the four non-foamable color toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK). The configuration including the heat-expandable toner (H) is shown, but the invention is not limited to this. The non-expandable color toner of three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is provided, and white ( The configuration including the heat-foamable toner of H) may be adopted.
[0034]
In this example, one color printer 1 and one client terminal connected to the computer network 3 are shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which a plurality of printers are connected may be used. It may be performed.
[0035]
Further, as the foamable toner used in this embodiment, for example, the one described in “Embodiments of the Invention” in JP-A-2001-134006 is used.
[0036]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image processing unit 12 shown in FIG.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing unit 12 includes a color signal generation unit 121, an image recognition processing unit 122, a foaming toner signal generation unit 123, and an output signal synthesis unit 124. You.
[0038]
The color signal generator 121 further includes an L * a * b * color space converter 121-1, a color converter / color corrector 121-2, and a tone corrector 121-3. The color signal generator 121 converts the image information input from the controller 11 into an L * a * b * color space using one three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system of a uniform color space defined by the CIE. a * b * color space conversion processing, color conversion from L * a * b * signals, and color conversion / color correction processing to remove color turbidity and the like for realizing color reproduction fidelity; Various processes such as a tone correction process for correcting the tone are performed, and four color images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) are processed by the image forming units A1 to A4 on the subsequent stage. A color signal for forming a toner image is generated. Note that the color signal generator 121 may directly generate CMYK from the L * a * b * signals using a DLUT.
[0039]
Further, the image recognition processing unit 122 further includes an edge extraction unit 122-1 and a foaming toner amount calculation unit 122-2. Then, the image recognition processing unit 122 calculates the amount of the foaming toner to be formed for performing the three-dimensional expression based on the image information input from the controller unit 11, and outputs the calculated amount to the foaming toner signal generation unit 123 in the subsequent stage.
[0040]
Further, the foaming toner signal generating unit 123 generates a foaming toner signal based on the recognition result of the image recognition processing unit 122, that is, data indicating the calculated foaming toner amount.
[0041]
The output signal synthesizing unit 124 synthesizes the color signal generated by the color signal generating unit 121 and the foamed toner signal generated by the foamed toner signal generating unit 123 to form an image on the subsequent stage. Output to means A1 to A5.
[0042]
Here, the processing of the image recognition unit 122 will be described in more detail.
[0043]
The edge extraction unit 121-2 extracts an edge portion from the image of the print target area by performing pattern matching or filtering processing. More specifically, edges in each direction are extracted using a DOG (Difference of two Gaussian) filter having four different azimuth selectivities at 45-degree intervals as shown in FIG. 3 described later. In this embodiment, four filters are shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0044]
Then, the extraction result of the edge extraction unit 121-2 is output to the foamed toner amount calculation unit 122-2. The foaming toner amount calculation unit 122-2 determines the amount of the foaming toner based on the extraction result, that is, the edge strength information, and outputs data indicating the foaming toner amount to the foaming toner signal generation unit 123 in the subsequent stage.
[0045]
That is, the edge portion extracted as described above is a region to be emphasized using the foamed toner.
[0046]
As for the method of placing the foaming toner, it is possible to use the output from the target area extraction unit as it is, to place it so as to overlap with the edge part with a constant width, and to form an oil-painted image. If so, the foamed toner image may be formed using a pattern that emphasizes the touch of the brush. A specific method of generating a pattern that emphasizes the touch of the brush is to add a certain number of lines extending in the edge direction, but it is possible to make the intervals between the lines constant or random. Conceivable. One example is shown in FIG.
[0047]
Then, the foaming toner signal generating unit 123 generates a foaming toner signal for emphasizing the contour extracted based on the input foaming toner amount data, and outputs the generated foaming toner signal to the output signal synthesizing unit 124. At 124, the four-color (YMCK) signal and the foamed toner signal are combined, and the color material gradation data is transferred to each of the image forming units A1 to A5.
[0048]
Thereby, the outline of the image in the image to be printed is enhanced, and an image subjected to three-dimensional enhancement processing such as an oil painting can be printed.
[0049]
In the above case, the edge is detected from the output of the DOG filter. However, if it is desired to draw a thick outline in an oil painting style, the parameters of the DOG filter are changed, for example, by increasing the variance, thereby smoothing the image. It is possible to obtain an image that has also been subjected to the conversion process at the same time, and the amount of the foamed toner can be determined based on this.
[0050]
Next, a configuration for generating a color toner image that enhances the above-described foamed toner image and further enhancing the enhancement effect will be described with reference to FIG.
[0051]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modified example of the image processing unit 12A shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the image forming unit A5 performs processing based on the foamed toner information generated in the image processing unit 12 shown in FIG. 2 shows a configuration for generating a color toner image for enhancing a foamed toner image to be formed.
[0052]
5, the image processing unit 12A is different from the image processing unit 12 shown in FIG. 2 in that an emphasized image generation unit 126 is newly added and an image information synthesis unit is included in the color signal generation unit 121. 121A-2 is newly added. The other configuration has the same function as the configuration shown in FIG.
[0053]
The image processing unit 12 first calculates the amount of foaming toner in the image recognition processing unit 122 as image processing in order to generate an enhanced image for further enhancing the foaming toner image.
[0054]
Next, the enhanced image generation unit 126 generates an enhanced image for enhancing the foamed toner image based on the calculation result, and outputs the enhanced image to the image information synthesis unit 121A-2 of the color signal generation unit 121A. Note that, apart from this processing route, the foamed toner signal generation unit 123 generates a foamed toner signal based on the above calculation result, and outputs the generated foamed toner signal to the output signal synthesis unit 124.
[0055]
Then, in the color signal generation processing of the color signal generation section 121A, after the L * a * b * color space conversion section 121A-1 performs a predetermined L * a * b * color space conversion processing, the image information synthesis section At 121A-2, the image information subjected to the L * a * b * color space conversion processing and the enhanced image information generated by the enhanced image generation unit 126 are input, and a synthesis process is performed.
[0056]
Then, the image information after the synthesis is input to the color correction unit 121A-3, and thereafter the color correction processing of the color correction unit 121A-3 and the gradation correction of the gradation correction unit 121A-4 are performed in the same manner as described above. Perform processing.
[0057]
By such processing, the color signal generator 121A generates four color signals that enhance the foamed toner image. Then, the generated four-color signal is output to the output signal synthesizing unit 124.
[0058]
Then, the output signal synthesizing section 124 inputs the expanded toner signal from the expanded toner signal generating section 123 and the four-color signal from the color signal generating section 121 and synthesizes these signals to form image forming means A1 to A1. Output to A5.
[0059]
Thus, the image forming units A1 to A5 perform a predetermined operation to form a foamed toner image on the outline of the image of the image to be printed and to form a color toner image in which the outline is emphasized. Thus, it is possible to create a three-dimensional print having a higher three-dimensional effect and realism than simply emphasizing the outline portion using the foaming toner.
[0060]
Here, a specific example of the emphasized image generated by the emphasized image generating unit 126 shown in FIG. 5 will be described below.
The emphasized image generation unit 126 generates an image in which a shadow is added to the extracted contour portion based on, for example, the foamed toner information and the image information from the controller unit 11 as an emphasized image. In this case, an image representing a shadow is generated by reducing the brightness by a certain amount and storing the chromaticity from the image information.
[0061]
In addition, the emphasized image generating unit 126 generates an image that highlights the center of the image surrounded by the foamed toner as the emphasized image based on the foamed toner information and the image information from the controller unit 11. . In this case, the chromaticity of the image information is preserved, and the brightness is increased by a certain amount to generate an image to be highlighted. Further, in the case of highlight expression, the brightness may be increased, and the chromaticity of the region may be enhanced by performing a process of decreasing the saturation and bringing the color closer to white.
[0062]
Next, a case in which a specific area in the image to be printed is extracted, and the outline of the image in the extracted specific area is subjected to enhancement processing will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0063]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example of the image processing unit 12 shown in FIG. 2. In this case, a configuration in which a specific region extraction unit 122 </ b> B- 1 is added before the edge extraction unit of the image recognition processing unit 122. Is shown.
[0064]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a modified example of the image processing unit 12A shown in FIG. 5 described above. In this case, a specific area extraction unit 122C-1 is added to a stage preceding the edge extraction unit of the image recognition processing unit 122. 1 shows the configuration.
[0065]
6 and 7 perform emphasis processing on an outline portion of an image of a specific area specified in advance by a user in an image to be printed.
[0066]
That is, the specific area designated by the user is extracted by the specific area extraction unit 122B-1 and the specific area extraction unit 122C-1. Then, the edge part of the image is extracted in the specific region extracted by the edge extraction unit 122B-2 and the edge extraction unit 122C-2 in the subsequent stage.
[0067]
Thereafter, the same processing as that of the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 is performed.
[0068]
Note that, specifically, the specific area is an area such as “sky”, “cloud”, “sea”, “forest”, etc. in the image to be printed. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, a “sky” region is extracted from a print target image by a specific region extraction unit, and an edge of, for example, “cloud” is extracted from the extracted “sky” region. The extraction unit extracts, the foamed toner amount calculation unit calculates the amount of toner to be put on the edge of the “cloud”, and the foamed toner signal generation unit calculates the edge amount of the “cloud” in accordance with the calculated toner amount. By generating a foaming toner signal for forming a foaming toner image (enhancing the edge portion), the edge portion of the “cloud” is emphasized as shown in FIG. The formed image is formed on the recording paper. In the example shown in FIG. 8B, a foamed toner image is formed at the edge of the "cloud" in the thick black line.
[0069]
If the specific area is “sea”, the “area” area is extracted by the specific area extraction unit, and the edge part of the “crest” or “inter-wave part” in the extracted “sea” area is extracted. Is extracted by an edge extraction unit, and a foamed toner image signal is generated by a foamed toner signal generating unit 123 so that a foamed toner image is selectively placed on an edge of the extracted “wave crest” or “inter-wave portion”.
[0070]
The “sky” area as the specific area is extracted by a method described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-195591. In addition, since the ridge line of the “cloud” can be extracted well by setting the direction of the DOG filter to 0 °, it is determined whether the output result of the DOG filter is included in the “sky” region. It is possible to calculate and generate foaming toner information from the DOG filter output signal when included.
[0071]
If the type of image is known in advance, a user interface (UI) may be provided to allow the user to select an object of interest, and parameters used in the DOG filter may be determined based on the selection signal. Shall be.
[0072]
Finally, the configuration of a user interface (UI) screen for the user to make various settings when starting the outline emphasis processing described in the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0073]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen of a printer driver in the client terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1, and in this case, shows a configuration example of a three-dimensional print setting screen (200, 202, 203).
[0074]
In FIG. 9A, a three-dimensional print instruction setting screen 200 includes a “contour emphasis processing presence / absence setting” item 200-1 for setting whether or not the user performs the contour emphasis processing using the foamable toner. A "setting of thickness of contour emphasis line" item 200-2 for setting the thickness of the contour emphasis line, and a "setting of emphasis line for contour line by user". Item 200-3 for setting whether or not to add emphasis effect by normal non-foamable color toner and item 200-3 for setting whether or not the user applies the emphasis effect by normal non-foamable color toner -4, a "print preview" button 200-5 for confirming the entire image actually printed in the currently set state before printing, and a process in which the user emphasizes only a specific area in the image to be printed. If you want to do "Specify 3D emphasis area" item 200-6, "Print start" button 200-7 used when the user instructs to start printing, and the user cancels the settings on this screen. And a "cancel" button 200-8 used at that time.
[0075]
Then, when the user designates “Yes” in the item “setting of whether or not to add an emphasis line to the outline” 200-3 in FIG. 9A, the emphasis shown in FIG. The display transits to the display of various line setting screens 202.
[0076]
On the various highlighting line setting screen 202, an item 201-1 for specifying the number of highlighting lines to be added by the user, an item 201-2 for specifying the distance between the highlighting lines to be added, and the additional highlighting line Item 201-3 for setting the layout pattern of the image, an OK button 201-4 used for determining the setting on this screen, and a cancel 201-5 used for canceling the setting on this screen. I can.
[0077]
When the user designates “Yes” in the “setting of presence / absence of enhancement effect by normal toner” item 200-4 in FIG. 9A, the enhancement effect by normal toner illustrated in FIG. Is displayed on the selection screen 203.
[0078]
On the selection screen 203 of the enhancement effect by the normal toner, a check box 203-1 for the user to select a shade expression or a highlight expression, and an OK button 203-2 used when deciding the setting on this screen. And a cancel 203-3 used to cancel the setting on this screen.
[0079]
That is, the content set on the UI screen of the printer driver shown in FIG. 9 is transferred from the client terminal 2 to the control unit 11 of the color printer 1 as print instruction information together with image information as print data. As a result, the above-described process of enhancing the image outline is performed under the control of the controller 11.
[0080]
In the above-described embodiment, the foamed toner image is formed only on the outline of the print target image to emphasize the three-dimensional effect. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The three-dimensional effect may be emphasized by increasing the amount of the foaming toner to be formed on the image contour portion in the specific image region, particularly as an image forming target.
[0081]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the user designates the emphasis processing is shown. However, other than this, a color printer which always performs the emphasis processing of the image contour portion of the print target image may be used.
[0082]
Further, in the system shown in the above-described embodiment, a case where image information is output from a personal computer (PC) such as a client terminal to a color printer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a system such as a copying machine. You may. Specifically, in this case, the user reads an original using an image reading unit provided in the copying machine system, inputs image information, and outputs an outline from a display operation unit such as a touch monitor screen provided in the copying machine system. Enables you to specify the emphasis processing for a set.
[0083]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the contour of the image in the print target area is extracted from the image information, and the amount of the foamable toner formed with respect to the extracted contour is adjusted to make the contour three-dimensional. In this case, since an image with a special effect added to the normal print is formed, it is possible to form a print with a high three-dimensional effect and realism.
[0084]
Further, according to the present invention, a specific area such as the sky, the sea, and the forest is three-dimensionally expressed, so that an electrophotographic image can be given a texture like an oil painting.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system including a tandem-type color printer as an image forming processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an image processing unit shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a DOG filter.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of adding an emphasis line.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of the image processing unit shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modification of the image processing unit shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a modification of the image processing unit shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image to be printed and an example of an image after an enhancement process.
FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a UI screen of a printer driver in the client terminal shown in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
100 image forming system, 1 color printer, 2 client terminal, 3 computer network, 11 image input interface unit, 12 image processing unit, 13a to 13e ROS, 14a to 14e photoconductor drum, 15a to 15e: developing unit, 16a to 16e: scorotron for primary charging, 18: intermediate transfer belt, 19a to 19e: primary transfer roll, 20: drive roll, 21: driven roll, 22: tension roll, 23: secondary transfer roll , 24: paper feed tray, 26: transport roll, 27: fixing unit, 271: heating roll, 272: pressure roll, 29a to 29e: cleaning device, 30: cleaner for intermediate transfer belt, 31: for secondary transfer roll Cleaner 121: color signal generator 122: image recognition processor 123: foaming toner signal Generating unit, 124 ... output signal combining unit

Claims (10)

The recording is performed by forming an expandable toner image made of an expandable toner on recording paper based on image information to be printed, and forming a color toner image made of a non-expandable color toner on the expandable toner image. An image forming processing method capable of forming a three-dimensional image on paper,
Extracting the outline of the image in the print target area from the image information,
An image forming method comprising: adjusting an amount of the foamable toner to be formed with respect to the extracted contour to form an image in which the contour is three-dimensionally enhanced. 2. The image forming processing method according to claim 1, wherein an image in which the outline is three-dimensionally enhanced is formed by forming an expandable toner image using the expandable toner only on the extracted outline. The method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined number of lines are formed by the expandable toner image using the expandable toner along the extracted outline portion line, thereby forming an image in which the outline portion is three-dimensionally enhanced. 2. The image forming method according to item 1. Adjusting the amount of the foamable toner with respect to the extracted contour portion to form an image in which the contour portion is three-dimensionally enhanced,
2. The image forming processing method according to claim 1, wherein a color toner image is further formed on the foamable toner image formed on the outline portion, further enhancing the outline portion. The recording is performed by forming an expandable toner image made of an expandable toner on recording paper based on image information to be printed, and forming a color toner image made of a non-expandable color toner on the expandable toner image. An image forming processing method capable of forming a three-dimensional image on paper,
Extract a specific area portion in the print target area from the image information,
Extracting the contour part in the extracted specific area part,
An image forming method comprising: adjusting an amount of the foamable toner to be formed with respect to the extracted contour to form an image in which the contour is three-dimensionally enhanced. The recording is performed by forming an expandable toner image made of an expandable toner on recording paper based on image information to be printed, and forming a color toner image made of a non-expandable color toner on the expandable toner image. An image forming processing apparatus capable of forming a three-dimensional image on paper,
Extracting means for extracting a contour portion of an image in a print target area from the image information;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that adjusts an amount of the foamable toner formed on the contour extracted by the extracting unit to form an image in which the contour is three-dimensionally enhanced. The image forming unit includes:
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the expandable toner image is formed only by the expandable toner on the outline extracted by the extraction unit, thereby forming an image in which the outline is three-dimensionally enhanced. Processing equipment. The image forming unit includes:
By forming a fixed number of lines along the contour line extracted by the extracting means with an expandable toner image using the expandable toner, an image in which the contour portion is three-dimensionally enhanced is formed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. The image forming unit includes:
Adjusting the amount of the foamable toner formed on the contour extracted by the extracting unit to form an image that emphasizes the contour three-dimensionally,
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a color toner image in which the outline is further emphasized is formed on the foamable toner image formed in the outline. The recording is performed by forming an expandable toner image made of an expandable toner on recording paper based on image information to be printed, and forming a color toner image made of a non-expandable color toner on the expandable toner image. An image forming processing apparatus capable of forming a three-dimensional image on paper,
A specific area extracting means for extracting a specific area portion in the print target area from the image information;
Contour extraction means for extracting a contour in the specific area extracted by the extraction means,
An image forming device for adjusting the formation amount of the foamable toner with respect to the contour portion extracted by the contour extracting device to form an image in which the contour portion is three-dimensionally enhanced. .

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