JP2004326528A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor for performing processing such as various logical arithmetic operations by setting an area where any pattern is not present between adjacent patterns in a tiling pattern function. <P>SOLUTION: When a tiling pattern function is used as intermediate code image data generated by an intermediate code generating part 11, not only the size of a pattern but also offset showing a distance between adjacent patterns are set. This offset is set so as to be larger than the size of the pattern so that an area where any pattern is not present can be set between the adjacent patterns. In this area, an irregular value, an already decided value, a preliminarily set value or a value to be decided in the point of time of plotting are set. Thus, an intermediate code image data developing part 13 can perform various processing such as ROP 3 arithmetic operations even in the area where any pattern is not present. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing technique for performing a rendering process based on an input drawing command or intermediate code image data generated from the drawing command to create a bitmap image and outputting the bitmap image to a printing device or the like, In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for realizing a tiling pattern function of repeatedly drawing the same pattern.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An image processing apparatus that receives a print command from a higher-level processing device such as a personal computer receives and sequentially interprets a drawing command, which is actual print information, and creates and outputs a bitmap image. In this process, if the image processing device holds a page buffer, the interpreted bitmap image is written as is to the page buffer (rendering process) and output in page units. Further, since the page buffer requires a large storage capacity, it often holds not a page buffer but a buffer (band buffer) in units of bands obtained by dividing one page into a plurality. In such a case, the intermediate code image data is converted into band-based intermediate code image data once, all the rendering commands are interpreted, and the intermediate code image data is generated. Performs rendering processing to write to the band buffer.
[0003]
In the normal rendering process, rendering is performed by referring only to information included in each rendering command (or the intermediate code image data returned from the rendering command), but pattern rendering and Windows (registered trademark) GDI are supported. Drawing of ROP (Raster Operation) 3 requires pattern information. Here, a single pattern received together with the drawing command is used as the pattern, and a tiling pattern function for repeatedly using the received pattern is provided. This tiling pattern function is a function of virtually laying down by repeatedly using a bitmap pattern having a size of M × N pixels. With this function, one pattern (= key pattern) of M × N pixels has a large area. This is for drawing a pattern.
[0004]
However, since pattern drawing and ROP3 drawing are originally intended for pages, when drawing to a band buffer using intermediate code image data, the phase between the origin of the band buffer and the pattern is considered in each band. There is a need to. As an example in consideration of the phase between the origin of the band buffer and the pattern, there is a method described in Patent Document 1. In the method described in Patent Document 1, an original pattern bitmap is propagated backward to the origin of a band buffer to obtain a reference pattern bitmap (= key pattern), and an area designated based on the reference pattern bitmap is determined. Is determined.
[0005]
However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, since the origin of the band buffer is used as a reference (= drawing coordinate system), the upper left coordinate (= origin pixel) of the key pattern matches the origin of the band buffer. Except in the case, the origin coordinate of the key pattern becomes negative, and there is a disadvantage that the circuit configuration becomes complicated when circuitization is performed.
[0006]
On the other hand, in the image drawing apparatus described in Patent Literature 2, the drawing coordinate system is converted into the pattern coordinate system and drawing is performed using the coordinates of the pattern coordinate system. By this method, the coordinates of the key pattern always have a non-negative value, which facilitates circuit implementation.
[0007]
Since the conventional tiling pattern function as described above is basically a function of laying down key patterns as described above, it is possible to draw at intervals and create an area where no key pattern exists between adjacent patterns. Can not. Also in the above two methods, it is assumed that all adjacent patterns are laid without gaps.
[0008]
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a conventional tiling pattern function capable of designating a pattern interval. For example, in Adobe PostScript (registered trademark), a horizontal pattern cell interval and a vertical pattern cell interval can be specified. In this case, for example, when the key pattern shown in FIG. 10A is given, a tiling pattern having a size designated by the horizontal pattern cell interval and the vertical pattern cell interval shown in FIG. 10B is generated. Then, the tiling pattern is drawn so as to be spread. At this time, when a horizontal pattern cell interval and a vertical pattern cell interval that are larger than the size of the key pattern are designated, transparent data is added to generate a tiling pattern, and overwriting is performed.
[0009]
However, in such a conventional tiling pattern function, only a fixed transmission instruction is performed between adjacent key patterns, and there is a problem that various processes such as a logical operation cannot be specified. there were.
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-30979
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-32768 A
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in the tiling pattern function, an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns can be provided, and image processing that enables processing such as various logical operations can be performed. It is intended to provide a device.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for performing a rendering process based on an input drawing command or intermediate code image data generated from the drawing command to create a bitmap image, and repeatedly drawing the same pattern. When the drawing command instructs to use the tiling pattern function at intervals larger than the size of the pattern, an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns is provided. It is characterized by drawing. In an area where this pattern does not exist, for example, when the calculation is performed, the calculation can be performed with the value being undefined, or the calculation can be performed as a designated value. As a result, it is possible to designate and execute various drawing processes in a portion between patterns that could only be overwritten by transmission in the past.
[0013]
Note that the pattern interval can be configured to be independently settable in the main scanning line direction and the sub-scanning line direction. Further, all or a part of the function of the drawing means can be constituted by a dedicated circuit. In this case, the pattern used in the tiling pattern function is configured to be held in a register in a dedicated circuit, and the speed can be increased.
[0014]
Further, when performing drawing by the tiling pattern function, similarly to the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the position information with respect to the reference position pattern including the origin of the image storage means inside the area is held, and the drawing is performed according to the position information. Can be configured. This makes it possible to correctly adjust the phase between the origin and the pattern in the image storage means. For example, even when rendering is performed in band units, it is possible to accurately match the phase of the pattern straddling the band. Further, it is possible to easily form a circuit.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an upper processing device, 2 is an image processing device, 3 is a printing device, 11 is an intermediate code generation unit, 12 is an intermediate code memory, 13 is an intermediate code image data development unit, 14 is a band buffer, and 15 is an output. It is a control unit. The image processing apparatus 2 is an example of an image processing apparatus of the present invention or an apparatus for realizing the image processing method of the present invention. In this example, after receiving a drawing instruction and generating intermediate code image data for each band, 2 is generated and output. Here, the drawing command is illustrated as receiving the drawing command from the host processor 1 such as a personal computer and outputting the created bitmap image to the printing device 3. Note that the upper processing device 1 and the image processing device 2 may be connected by a cable or communicably connected by a network such as a LAN. In many cases, the image processing device 2 and the printing device 3 are directly connected by a wire or the like, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0016]
The image processing device 2 includes an intermediate code generation unit 11, an intermediate code memory 12, an intermediate code image data development unit 13, a band buffer 14, and an output control unit 15. The intermediate code generation unit 11 receives a drawing command sent from the host processor 1, interprets the drawing command, and generates band-based intermediate code image data.
[0017]
When the tiling pattern function is instructed by the drawing command, the intervals at which the patterns are arranged can be set independently in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, together with information on the pattern and the size of the pattern. The intermediate code generation unit 11 that has received such a drawing command generates intermediate code image data including the size of the pattern, the interval at which the pattern is arranged, and the like, together with the pattern or the pointer indicating the pattern. The intermediate code image data further includes offset information. This offset indicates, as a reference position pattern, a pattern at a position that includes the origin of the drawing area of the band when drawing in the band buffer 14, and indicates information on the position of the origin of the drawing area from the origin of the reference position pattern. Things. Details will be described later.
[0018]
The intermediate code memory 12 stores the intermediate code image data generated by the intermediate code generator 11. Further, for example, the intermediate code generation unit 11 can store the drawing command received from the higher-level processing device 1 and use it in the processing in the intermediate code generation unit 11.
[0019]
The intermediate code image data development unit 13 includes the function of the drawing unit of the present invention, reads out and renders the intermediate code image data in band units from the intermediate code memory 12, creates a bitmap image, and writes it to the band buffer. At this time, if the intermediate code image data indicates the tiling pattern function, the designated image is repeatedly drawn at designated intervals, and the pattern is arranged. If the specified interval is larger than the size of the image, there will be a gap area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns. For an area where this pattern does not exist, for example, the value is undefined, a value specified in advance by a drawing command or the like is written, or a value of an area where no pattern exists is received together with the tiling pattern function instruction, and It can be a value.
[0020]
Further, when a logical operation (ROP) process is instructed by a rendering command (intermediate code image data), the intermediate code image data developing unit 13 executes the instructed ROP process. At this time, ROP processing using the tiling pattern function as described above is also possible. As described above, by setting a value for an area where no pattern exists, various ROP processes can be performed.
[0021]
The band buffer 14 corresponds to the image storage means in the present invention, and holds a bitmap image in band units developed by the intermediate code image data developing unit 13. When storing a color bitmap image, for example, the band buffer 14 stores the data as plane-sequential data stored as a separate plane for each color component, or holds data of all color components for each pixel. It can be stored as dot sequential data. The band buffer 14 has a storage area for one band and a storage area for a plurality of bands. The writing of the bitmap image by the intermediate code image data developing unit 13 and the reading by the output control unit 15 are performed in parallel. It can also be configured so that it can be performed. It may be configured to hold the corresponding attribute information together with the bitmap image.
[0022]
The output control unit 15 reads the bitmap image developed in the band buffer 14 and transfers it to the printing device 3 or the like to form an image.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a more specific functional block diagram according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 21 is an input control unit, 22 is a rendering command interpretation unit, 23 is an intermediate code image data generation unit, 31 is an intermediate code image data interpretation unit, 32 is a compression / decompression processing unit, 33 is a reduction / enlargement processing unit, 34 is a color conversion unit, 35 is a point plane conversion unit, and 36 is a multi-value conversion unit. The solid arrows indicate the flow of data, and the dashed arrows indicate the flow of control.
[0024]
In this example, the intermediate code generation unit 11 is configured to include an input control unit 21, a rendering command interpretation unit 22, and an intermediate code image data generation unit 23. The intermediate code image data expanding unit 13 includes an intermediate code image data interpreting unit 31, a compression / expansion processing unit 32, a reduction / enlargement processing unit 33, a color conversion unit 34, a point plane conversion unit 35, and a multi-value conversion unit 36. It is comprised including.
[0025]
The input control unit 21 receives the drawing command sent from the host processor 1 or the like, and stores the drawing command in the intermediate code memory 12. Then, the rendering command interpreting unit 22 is started. The drawing command interpreter 22 sequentially reads and interprets the drawing commands stored in the intermediate code memory 12. Then, the information (attribute information, color information, edge information, image, etc.) obtained by the interpretation processing of the drawing command is transferred to the intermediate code image data generation unit 23. The intermediate code image data generation unit 23 executes various functions related to the generation of the intermediate code image data in the above-described intermediate code generation unit 11, and outputs the intermediate code image data in band units from the information passed from the rendering command interpretation unit 22. Is generated and stored in the intermediate code memory 12.
[0026]
3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of conventional intermediate code image data, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of intermediate code image data used in the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a description of various position information in the intermediate code image data. FIG. Here, the intermediate code image data using the tiling pattern function is shown. In the conventional tiling pattern function, it is assumed that only the pattern is spread. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the information held as the intermediate code image data includes the command ID, the pattern to be spread, the width and height of the pattern, the enlargement information for enlarging the pattern, and the like. It is enough to hold the X and Y coordinates of the origin pixel of the pattern as information.
[0027]
In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the offset and step information in the X and Y directions are stored as position information together with the command ID, the width and height of the pattern to be spread, and the enlarged information when the pattern is enlarged. I have. FIG. 5 shows the width, height, offset, and step of the pattern. FIG. 5 illustrates that the pattern is spread over the entire drawing area of the band buffer 14. A pattern drawn at a position including the origin of the drawing area of the band buffer 14 is shown as a key pattern (reference position pattern) with reference to the key pattern. Each offset and step is
Offset X: distance in the x direction from the origin coordinate X of the key pattern to the origin of the drawing area of the band buffer 14
Offset Y: distance in the y direction from the origin coordinate Y of the key pattern to the origin of the drawing area of the band buffer 14
Step X: distance between the X coordinate of the origin pixel of the key pattern and the X coordinate of the origin pixel of the next pattern in the x direction
Step Y: distance between Y coordinate of origin pixel of key pattern and Y coordinate of origin pixel of next pattern in y direction
It is.
[0028]
When a value larger than the pattern width or the pattern height is held as the information of the step X and the step Y, an area where no pattern exists exists between adjacent patterns. In the present invention, it is possible to intentionally provide an area where such a pattern does not exist, and to perform various processing such as ROP processing on this area.
[0029]
Further, as the information of the offset X and the offset Y, the respective distances between the origin of the key pattern and the origin of the drawing area of the band buffer 14 are set as described above. As a result, the process of the intermediate code image data developing unit 13 is reduced by setting the coordinates at the time of accessing the pattern to be non-negative as in Patent Literature 2, and the circuit configuration for performing the coordinate conversion process when a dedicated circuit is used is simplified. Can be
[0030]
In the example of the intermediate code image data shown in FIG. 4, for a pattern to be repeatedly drawn, a pointer to the pattern is held in the intermediate code image data. This makes it possible to hold the pattern separately. For example, by storing the data in a register accessible by the intermediate code image data interpretation unit 31, high-speed access to a pattern can be realized.
[0031]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the intermediate code image data used in the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 6, control information and color designation information are expanded so as to be able to be stored so that a uniform value can be designated for an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns. The control information is information for determining whether to invalidate or validate an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns. The color specification is to specify color information of an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns when an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns is valid as the setting content of the control information. For example, if the control information indicates that a region where a pattern does not exist is valid, a bitmap image filled with the color specified by the color information is obtained for an area where the pattern does not exist. By using such intermediate code image data, every time a pattern is repeatedly drawn by the tiling pattern function, the validity / invalidity of the area where the pattern does not exist and the color information when the area where the pattern does not exist are validated Can be set.
[0032]
In addition, various modifications are possible as intermediate code image data, for example, the number of pattern repetitions can be specified.
[0033]
Returning to FIG. 2, the intermediate code image data interpretation unit 31 of the intermediate code image data expansion unit 13 executes many functions described as the functions of the above-described intermediate code image data expansion unit 13. , The intermediate codes are sequentially extracted and interpreted, rendered in the band buffer 14 in band units, and developed into bitmap images. At this time, for the intermediate code image data using the tiling pattern function as shown in FIG. 4, the pixels (X, Y) in the drawing area are
X ′ = (X + offset X)% Step X (Equation 1-1)
Y ′ = (Y + offset Y)% Step Y (Equation 1-2)
Is calculated, and the corresponding pattern pixel (X ′, Y ′) is determined from the pattern. Then, after performing calculations and the like as necessary, the image is drawn in the band buffer 14. Note that the operator '%' obtains a remainder.
[0034]
Here, the coordinates (X ′, Y ′) of the obtained pattern pixel are respectively
Pattern width ≦ X ′ <Step X (Equation 2-1)
Pattern height ≦ Y ′ <Step Y (Equation 2-2)
In the case of (1), it indicates an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns. In this case, various measures are possible, such as making the value of the pattern indefinite and canceling the writing to the band buffer 14, or writing a preset value. When the data format of the intermediate code image data is as shown in FIG. 6, the value of an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns may be determined according to the control information and the color information.
[0035]
The compression / decompression processing unit 32 decompresses a compressed image or a pattern as described above, if it has been compressed. The reduction / enlargement processing unit 33 reduces or enlarges the image or the pattern according to the enlargement ratio in the intermediate code image data stored in the intermediate code memory 12 with respect to the image or the pattern as described above. The color conversion unit 34 performs a color space conversion process, a color correction process, and the like on the bitmap image in the band buffer 14 according to each drawing object. When storing the bitmap image in the band buffer 14, the dot plane conversion unit 35 stores the data of all color components for each pixel as dot-sequential data. When requesting plane-sequential data to be stored as separate planes, conversion is performed from point-sequential data to plane-sequential data. Of course, it may have a function of converting a bitmap image stored as plane-sequential data into dot-sequential data. For example, in order to treat a binary image or pattern in the same manner as another multi-value (color) image or pattern, the multi-value conversion unit 36 associates the binary with the multi-value minimum and maximum values, and Is converted to a multi-valued image or pattern.
[0036]
The whole or a part of the structure of the intermediate code image data developing unit 13 or the band buffer 14 and the like can be constituted by a dedicated circuit. Thereby, processing can be performed at high speed. At this time, a register for holding a pattern to be repeatedly drawn by the tiling pattern function in a dedicated circuit may be provided, and the register may hold the pattern.
[0037]
Next, an example of an operation according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The intermediate code image data for performing the drawing process by the tiling pattern function using the pattern as described above may be used in the ROP3 calculation drawing command in addition to the case of drawing the pattern. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the ROP3 operation. The ROP3 operation stores, as a destination, a result obtained by performing an operation on three inputs of a bitmap image of two drawing data (brush and source) and a bitmap image of background data (destination). As shown in FIG. 7, two types of ROP2 operations (ROP2 (1) and ROP2 (2) in the figure) are switched according to a value of 0 or 1 for each bit of the bitmap image of the brush. ROP2 performs a logical operation between the source and the destination, and when the ROP3 operation is specified, two types of ROP2 operations are determined. Normally, the destination is a bitmap image that has already been written to the band buffer 14, and the operation result is written back to the band buffer 14 as the destination. In such ROP3 calculation, a tiling pattern function is used when drawing a bitmap image of a brush.
[0038]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of the execution sequence of the drawing process including the ROP3 operation. In the figure, S indicates a source, B indicates a brush, D indicates a destination, and the destination indicates an image held in the band buffer 14.
[0039]
In the example shown in FIG. 8, first, in (1), intermediate code image data that does not require a pattern (intermediate code image data for drawing) is executed to perform a drawing process of a drawing object. A bitmap image is drawn in the band buffer 14 by the drawing intermediate code image data.
[0040]
Subsequently, in (2), intermediate code image data for generating a bitmap image to be a brush using the tiling pattern function is processed. However, here, the intermediate code image data is not actually drawn in the band buffer 14, Each value related to the pattern or the pattern in the intermediate code image data is held. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the pattern when the tiling pattern function is used is configured to be referred to by a pointer from the intermediate code image data. Therefore, the pattern itself is stored in the intermediate code memory 12 simply by reading the intermediate code image data. For example, when the intermediate code image data developing unit 13 (intermediate code image data interpreting unit 31) is configured by a dedicated circuit, the pattern is transferred to a register in the dedicated circuit when the intermediate code image data accompanied by the pattern is interpreted. It is good to transfer it by such as. This makes it possible to speed up the processing when accessing the pattern in the subsequent processing.
[0041]
In the following (3), the intermediate code image data accompanied by the ROP3 operation drawing command is executed. The intermediate code image data accompanying the ROP3 operation drawing command basically draws a drawing object, and the bitmap image to be drawn is a source. Then, the designated ROP3 operation is executed using the pattern (2) (and the pattern repeated by the tiling pattern function) as a brush and the bitmap image written in the band buffer 14 up to this point as a destination. You.
[0042]
Although this ROP3 operation is executed for each pixel, the source is a bitmap image drawn by the intermediate code image data of (3), and the destination is a bitmap image already drawn in the band buffer 14. What is necessary is just to read from the band buffer 14. The pattern serving as the brush is only one pattern stored in the register even for a wide area. Therefore, the coordinates (X ′, Y ′) in the pattern are calculated from the coordinates (X, Y) of the pixel to be drawn by the above-described equations (1-1) and (1-2), and X ′, Y If 'is less than the pattern width and pattern height, the pattern in the register is accessed to obtain a value, and the value is used as a brush. Then, the ROP3 operation may be performed together with the source and the destination, and the result may be written into the band buffer 14 as the destination.
[0043]
If the coordinates (X ′, Y ′) in the pattern satisfy Expressions (2-1) and (2-2), no pattern exists. In this case, the value of the pattern is undefined, an error is notified, or the operation can be dealt with by canceling the calculation for the designated pixel and the writing to the band buffer. Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the values of all the bits of the pattern are fixed to 0 or 1, and the ROP3 operation is executed. Further, before the intermediate code image data instructing such ROP3 operation, a value in an area where no pattern exists between such adjacent patterns is configured to be set in advance. For an area where no pattern exists, the calculation can be performed using a preset value. When the intermediate code image data has a data format as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to determine the value of the area where no pattern exists according to the control information and the color information, and perform the ROP3 operation. In this way, the ROP3 calculation using the pattern as a brush can be performed using the tiling pattern function.
[0044]
In the following (4), similar to (1), the intermediate code image data (intermediate code image data for drawing) that does not require a pattern is executed to perform the drawing processing of the drawing object. With this drawing intermediate code image data, a new drawing object is drawn on the bitmap image of the calculation result of the ROP3 calculation.
[0045]
In (5), the intermediate code image data of the ROP3 operation drawing command using the pattern is executed again. As in (3), the source is a bitmap image drawn by the intermediate code image data. Then, the bitmap image written in the band buffer 14 up to this point is the destination. As the brush, the pattern set last in the steps so far, that is, the pattern (2) (and the pattern repeated by the tiling pattern function) is used as the brush. The designated ROP3 operation is executed by these source, brush, and destination. The calculation result is written back to the band buffer 14.
[0046]
The following (6) and (7) show the case where a pattern is drawn by the tiling pattern function instead of the ROP3 calculation. First, in (6), when the intermediate code image data for pattern generation is newly executed, all the pattern information held so far is updated, and the pattern of (6) is transferred to the register and Each value is retained. The intermediate code image data for pattern drawing of (7) is a command for performing drawing using the already stored pattern, and is for drawing a clip image. Therefore, the pattern (6) is repeatedly drawn, and is clipped by the area drawn in (7). The result is written to the band buffer.
[0047]
In this way, the pattern can be repeatedly drawn using the tiling pattern function. Note that {circle around (8)} is a normal drawing process in which a drawing object is drawn according to the intermediate code image data.
[0048]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a drawing result. In FIG. 9, the hatching is different to show the difference in color. The ROP3 operation is performed using a bitmap image in which a large rectangle is drawn as shown in FIG. 9A as a destination and a small rectangle as shown in FIG. 9B as a pattern. As a result, for example, an image as shown in FIG. 9C is obtained. As shown by the hatching in FIG. 9C, the color of both the large rectangle and the small rectangle is changed by the ROP3 calculation. Conventionally, in a tiling pattern function using a pattern, only a transparent overwrite can be performed in a portion where no pattern exists, but in the present invention, the ROP operation or the like can be performed as described above.
[0049]
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this Embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, although the above description does not refer to the enlargement / reduction of the pattern, the X-direction enlargement ratio and the Y-direction enlargement ratio are set as the enlargement information of the intermediate code image data shown in FIGS. Drawing can be repeatedly performed by a tiling pattern function using a pattern enlarged or reduced in the Y direction. In this case, when calculating the coordinates in the pattern, instead of using Expressions (1-1) and (1-2),
X ′ = ((X + offset X) / X direction magnification)% step X
Y ′ = ((Y + offset Y) / Y-direction magnification)% step Y
The pattern may be accessed using the following formula and the coordinates (X ′, Y ′) obtained by this formula.
[0050]
In the above description, rendering processing is performed after generating intermediate code image data for each band. However, for example, rendering is performed in units of pages, or rendering processing is performed directly from a drawing command without generating intermediate code image data. May be performed.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when a pattern is repeatedly drawn in the tiling pattern function, an area where no pattern exists between adjacent patterns can be provided, and the value of the area can be set. May be a predetermined value, a preset value, or a value designated each time. As a result, there is an effect that various drawing processes can be designated and executed in a portion between patterns which could only be overwritten by transmission in the past.
[0052]
In addition, by having position information for a pattern that includes the origin of the drawing area inside the area, the coordinates when accessing the pattern when drawing the pattern repeatedly can be set to a non-negative value. The circuit configuration can be simplified even when it is realized by a circuit. Further, in a configuration in which rendering is performed in band units, it is possible to correctly adjust the phase between the origin of the band buffer and the pattern for each band. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to form a high-quality image in which the phase of the pattern over the band is guaranteed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a more specific functional block diagram according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of conventional intermediate code image data.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of intermediate code image data used in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of various position information in intermediate code image data used in the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another example of intermediate code image data used in the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a ROP3 calculation.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of an execution sequence of a drawing process including a ROP3 operation.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a drawing result.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a conventional tiling pattern function capable of designating a pattern interval.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... High-order processing apparatus, 2 ... Image processing apparatus, 3 ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Intermediate code generation part, 12 ... Intermediate code memory, 13 ... Intermediate code image data development part, 14 ... Band buffer, 15 ... Output control part, 21: Input control unit, 22: Drawing command interpreting unit, 23: Intermediate code image data generating unit, 31: Intermediate code image data interpreting unit, 32: Compression / expansion processing unit, 33: Reduction / enlargement processing unit, 34: Color Conversion unit, 35: point plane conversion unit, 36: multi-value conversion unit.

Claims (12)

In an image processing apparatus having a tiling pattern function for repeatedly drawing the same pattern, a drawing means for performing a rendering process based on an input drawing command or intermediate code image data generated from the drawing command to create a bitmap image And image storage means for holding the bitmap image, wherein the drawing means are adjacent to each other when instructed to use the tiling pattern function at intervals larger than the size of the pattern by the drawing command. An image processing apparatus that performs drawing so as to provide an area where the pattern does not exist between the patterns. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interval can be set independently in a main scanning line direction and a sub-scanning line direction. The drawing means, when performing drawing by the tiling pattern function, holds position information for a reference position pattern including the origin of the image storage means inside the area, and performs drawing in accordance with the position information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus performs the processing. The drawing means, when performing an operation using the pattern, if the operation is performed in a region where a pattern provided between adjacent patterns does not exist, the value in the region where the pattern does not exist is calculated. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation is performed indefinitely. The drawing means, when performing an operation using the pattern, if the operation is performed in a region where a pattern provided between adjacent patterns does not exist, the value in the region where the pattern does not exist is calculated. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation is performed as a specified uniform value. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all or a part of the function of the drawing unit is configured by a dedicated circuit. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when performing the calculation using the pattern, the drawing unit holds the pattern in a register in the dedicated circuit. An image processing method for performing a rendering process based on an input drawing command or intermediate code image data generated from the drawing command to create a bitmap image, having a tiling pattern function for repeatedly drawing the same pattern. When the drawing command instructs the use of the tiling pattern function at intervals larger than the size of the pattern, drawing is performed so as to provide an area where the pattern does not exist between adjacent patterns. Characteristic image processing method. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the interval can be set independently for the main scanning line direction and the sub-scanning line direction. 9. When drawing by the tiling pattern function, position information for a reference position pattern including the origin of the image storage means inside the area is held, and drawing is performed according to the position information. Alternatively, the image processing method according to claim 9. When receiving an instruction to perform an operation using the pattern by the drawing command, if the operation is performed in a region where a pattern provided between adjacent patterns does not exist, the operation is performed in an area where the pattern does not exist. The image processing method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the calculation is performed with the value being undefined. When receiving an instruction to perform an operation using the pattern by the drawing command, if the operation is performed in a region where a pattern provided between adjacent patterns does not exist, the operation is performed in an area where the pattern does not exist. The image processing method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the calculation is performed using a value as a specified uniform value.

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