JP2005260871A - Image processor and image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium with program for allowing computer to execute image processing method recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute image drawing processing of an optional clipping graphic with a small memory capacity at high speed. <P>SOLUTION: An image processor for capturing optional polygonal clipping information and providing an output of a drawn image includes: a main memory 104 for storing the polygonal clipping information and image data after image drawing; a CPU 101 for writing polygonal clipping information to the main memory 104 and transferring a band image drawing command; and an image drawing unit 105 that scans the polygonal clipping information stored in the main memory 104 in a horizontal direction to read a start point and an end point of the clipping graphic in crossing with the scanned line for each line to execute polygonal clipping, and that draws an image of the result to the main memory 104 as band data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method used for a digital copying machine, a digital camera, a printer, and the like, and a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method is recorded.

  Conventionally, several clipping algorithms have been known to perform 2D clipping in order to eliminate the portion that protrudes from the 2D screen when geometrically transforming 3D graphics polygon data and projecting it onto the 2D screen. ing. A typical example is a reentrant polygon clipping method (see Non-Patent Document 1, for example).

  Also, as shown in FIG. 25, when clipping a polygon that connects the end points of P1 to P8 to the clipping window of the two-dimensional screen, first, pay attention to the left edge of the clipping window, and the line crossing between P1 and P8 , Find the points that cross between P1 and P2, respectively, increase the number of end points and connect them to form a new polygon. Similarly, pay attention to the clipping window and perform the same processing to form a new polygon. Similarly, pay attention to the right edge of the clipping window and perform the same processing to form a new polygon, and similarly pay attention to the bottom of the clipping window and perform the same processing to form a new polygon, Q1 It is possible to form a polygon after clipping having an end point of ~ Q10.

  A clipping processing device is disclosed as a hardware implementation of the Sutherland-Hodgman algorithm of Non-Patent Document 1 (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In general, the Sutherland-Hodgman algorithm performs a clipping process on a quadrangular clipping figure such as a two-dimensional screen and is considerably complicated, but polygon clipping is also possible. In the case of clipping of concave polygons, it is necessary to proceed while always determining the inside and outside of polygon clipping.

  In addition, this is an example of clipping processing for an arbitrary figure in the printer system. When a polygon clipping figure is drawn in another area and the figure is drawn in the band buffer, the area corresponding to the position of that figure is moved to another area. A method is known in which a drawn polygon clipping image is read, AND processing is performed, and drawing is performed in a band buffer (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Also, an ordered edge list algorithm method is known in which a two-dimensional polygonal figure is converted into a start point X and an end point X value for each horizontal line and drawn (for example, Non-Patent Document 2). A method in which this method is implemented as hardware by polygon drawing of three-dimensional graphics is disclosed as an image processing apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent No. 2983728 JP-A-8-297737 Japanese Patent No. 3332165 Sutherland, Ivan, E And Hodgman Gray, W "Reentrant Polygon Clipping" CACM Vol.17 pp32-42, 1974: David F. Rogers "Procedural Elements For Computer Graphics" 1985 David F. Rogers "Procedural Elements For Computer Graphics" 1985

  However, in the method using the algorithm of Non-Patent Document 1 (Sutherland-Hodgman) as shown above, when processing is performed on a rectangular clipping figure such as a two-dimensional screen, the amount of calculation is too small. I don't care about it, but when performing it on an arbitrary polygon figure, it takes a lot of processing time because it requires many steps by performing a large amount of computation and clipping processing for each side of the clipping figure. In the created figure after clipping, since the process of drawing a rectangle is initially an arbitrary polygon drawing process, the algorithm for drawing the figure becomes complicated and it is difficult to implement the hardware.

  In addition, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, since an arbitrary clipping figure is stored in a form drawn in another area, a storage area for a band area or a page area is required for MAX. And In addition, since the arbitrary clipping figure drawn at the time of drawing is always read and drawing to the band memory while performing the AND processing of the clipping figure and the drawing figure, the amount of memory access increases and the processing speed also decreases. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to enable drawing processing of an arbitrary clipping figure with a small memory capacity and at high speed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus that captures arbitrary polygon clipping information and performs drawing output. A data storage area for storing data, transfer / control means for writing polygon clipping information in the data storage area and transferring a band drawing command, and the polygon clipping information stored in the data storage area in the horizontal direction. And drawing means for performing polygon clipping by reading the starting point and the ending point of a clipping figure that intersects the line for each line, drawing the data as band data in the data storage area, and To do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the drawing means scans an arbitrary polygon clipping figure for each line in the horizontal direction, and obtains only information on the start and end points of the arbitrary clipping figure that crosses the horizontal line. By drawing the drawing pattern and clipping pattern of the memory word to be read and drawn in real time and drawing it as band data in the data storage area, the figure is drawn only as the information of the start point value and end point value crossing each horizontal scan line. It becomes possible to do.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the drawing processing means comprises drawing command analyzing means, horizontal clipping information generating means, horizontal line drawing means, and horizontal clipping information generating means, and the drawing command analyzing means. Receives the drawing command from the transfer / control means, transfers the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn to the horizontal clipping information generation means, and sends the start X value and end point X value of the horizontal line to the horizontal line drawing means. The horizontal clipping information generating means receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analyzing means, reads the horizontal polygon clipping information of the Y value from the polygon clipping information, and the horizontal line drawing means The horizontal line drawing process is started from the start X value and the end X value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis means. Then, a drawing pattern for each word in the data storage means is generated and transferred to the gradation processing means, a drawing word number that is the number of horizontal words of the drawing word is transferred to the horizontal clipping information generating means, and the horizontal clipping The information generating means generates a clip pattern corresponding to the drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing means, and draws the post-drawing image data in the data storage area.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in claim 1, the drawing command analysis means receives the drawing command from the transfer / control means and transfers the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn to the horizontal clipping information generation means, Also, the horizontal line start means and the end point X value are sent to the horizontal line drawing means, and the horizontal clipping information generating means receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analyzing means, and the Y value is obtained from the polygon clipping information. The horizontal polygon drawing information is read, and the horizontal line drawing means starts drawing processing of the horizontal line from the start X value and the end point X value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis means, and for each word of the data storage means A drawing pattern is generated and transferred to the gradation processing means, and the drawing word number, which is the number of drawing words in the horizontal direction, is Each horizontal scan line is transferred to the information generation unit, and the horizontal clipping information generation unit generates a clip pattern corresponding to the drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing unit and draws the image drawing data in the data storage area. It is possible to draw an arbitrary polygon clipping figure as information of only the starting point value and the ending point value that crosses.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for capturing and outputting arbitrary polygon clipping information, a data storage area for storing the polygon clipping information and post-drawing image band data, and the data storage. Transfer and control process for writing polygon clipping information in the area and transferring the band drawing command, and clipping figure that scans the polygon clipping information stored in the data storage area in the horizontal direction and intersects the line A drawing step of reading the starting point and the ending point of each line for each line, executing polygon clipping, and drawing as a post-drawing image data band in the data storage area.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in the drawing step, an arbitrary polygon clipping figure is scanned for each line in the horizontal direction, and only the information on the start point and end point of the arbitrary clipping figure that crosses the horizontal line is obtained. By drawing the drawing pattern and clipping pattern of the memory word to be read and drawn in real time and drawing it as band data in the data storage area, the figure is drawn only as the information of the start point value and end point value crossing each horizontal scan line. It becomes possible to do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the drawing processing step includes a drawing command analyzing step, a horizontal clipping information generating step, a horizontal line drawing step, and a horizontal clipping information generating step, and the drawing command analyzing step Receives the drawing command from the transfer / control step, transfers the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn to the horizontal clipping information generation step, and sends the start X value and the end point X value of the horizontal line to the horizontal line drawing step. The horizontal clipping information generating step receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analyzing step, reads the horizontal polygon clipping information of the Y value from the polygon clipping information, and the horizontal line drawing step From the drawing command analysis step, the horizontal line drawing process is started from the horizontal line start X value and end point X value. Then, a drawing pattern for each word in the data storage means is generated and transferred to the gradation processing step, a drawing word number that is the number of horizontal words of the drawing word is transferred to the horizontal clipping information generation step, and the horizontal clipping is performed. The information generation step generates a clip pattern corresponding to the drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing step, and draws the drawn image data in the data storage area.

  According to the invention of claim 4, in claim 3, the drawing command analysis step receives the drawing command from the transfer / control step and transfers the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn to the horizontal clipping information generation step, Also, the horizontal line start process sends the horizontal line start X value and end point X value, and the horizontal clipping information generation process receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analysis process. The horizontal polygon clipping information is read, and the horizontal line drawing process starts the drawing process of the horizontal line from the start X value and the end point X value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis process. A drawing pattern is generated and transferred to the gradation processing step, and the drawing word number, which is the horizontal word number of the drawing word, is horizontally clipped. The horizontal clipping information generation step generates a clip pattern corresponding to the drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing step, and draws the image data after drawing in the data storage area, thereby performing each horizontal scan. It becomes possible to draw an arbitrary polygon clipping figure as information of only the start point value and the end point value crossing the line.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 3 or 4 is recorded.

  According to the invention according to claim 5, the image processing method according to claim 3 or 4 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium as a program, whereby the image processing method according to claim 3 or 4 is recorded on a computer. It is possible to execute the image processing method.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention (Claim 1), the drawing means scans an arbitrary polygon clipping figure for each line in the horizontal direction, and sets the start point and end point of the arbitrary clipping figure that crosses the horizontal line. By reading only the information, generating the drawing pattern and clipping pattern of the memory word to be drawn in real time and drawing it as band data in the data storage area, only the start point value and the end point value crossing each horizontal scan line Since a figure can be drawn, the drawing process of an arbitrary clipping figure can be executed at a high speed with a small memory capacity.

  An image processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the drawing command analysis unit generates a horizontal clipping information by generating a Y value of a horizontal line to be drawn upon receiving a drawing command from the transfer / control unit. To the horizontal line drawing means, and the horizontal clipping information generating means receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analyzing means, and the polygon The horizontal polygon drawing information of the Y value is read from the clipping information, and the horizontal line drawing means starts the drawing process of the horizontal line from the start X value and the end point X value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis means, and stores the data The drawing pattern for each word of the means is generated and transferred to the gradation processing means, and the drawing word number, which is the horizontal word number of the drawing word, is stored. The horizontal clipping information generation unit generates a clip pattern corresponding to the drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing unit, transfers the clip pattern to the gradation processing unit, and the gradation processing unit further transfers the horizontal line to the clipping information generation unit. By performing gradation processing from the drawing pattern from the drawing means and the clip pattern from the horizontal clipping information generating means and drawing the band data in the data storage area, only the start point value and the end point value that cross each horizontal scan line can be obtained. Since any polygonal clipping figure can be drawn as information, the drawing process of any clipping figure can be executed at a high speed with a small memory capacity.

  In the image processing method according to the present invention (claim 3), in the drawing step, an arbitrary polygonal clipping figure is scanned line by line in the horizontal direction, and the starting point of the arbitrary clipping figure that crosses the horizontal line By reading only the end point information, generating the drawing pattern and clipping pattern of the memory word to be drawn in real time and drawing it as band data in the data storage area, only the start point value and end point value that crosses each horizontal scan line Since it is possible to draw a graphic as information, there is an effect that a drawing process of an arbitrary clipping graphic can be executed at a high speed with a small memory capacity.

  The image processing method according to the present invention (Claim 4) is the image processing method according to Claim 3, wherein the drawing command analysis step receives the drawing command from the transfer / control step and generates the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn. And the horizontal clipping information generation step receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analysis step, and sends the horizontal line to the horizontal line drawing step. The horizontal polygon clipping information of the Y value is read from the clipping information, and the horizontal line drawing process starts the horizontal line drawing process from the start X value and the end point X value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis process, and stores the data. A drawing pattern for each word in the process is generated and transferred to the gradation processing process, and the drawing word number, which is the horizontal word number of the drawing word, is stored. Transfer to the clipping information generation step, where the horizontal clipping information generation step generates a clip pattern corresponding to the drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing step, transfers it to the gradation processing step, and further the gradation processing step By performing gradation processing from the drawing pattern from the drawing process and the clip pattern from the horizontal clipping information generation process and drawing the band data in the data storage area, only the start point value and end point value crossing each horizontal scan line can be obtained. Since any polygonal clipping figure can be drawn as information, the drawing process of any clipping figure can be executed at a high speed with a small memory capacity.

  The recording medium according to the present invention (Claim 5) can execute the image processing method according to Claim 3 or 4 on a computer by recording the program on a computer-readable recording medium as a program. There is an effect.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. To do.

  According to the present invention, an arbitrary clipping figure is processed and stored into information of a start point X value and an end point X value that cross each horizontal scan line, and when drawing a figure to the band memory, it crosses the horizontal line to be drawn. Read only the starting point X value and end point X value information of the arbitrary clipping figure, generate the drawing pattern and clipping pattern of the memory word to be drawn in real time, perform AND processing, and draw it in the band memory. Can be performed at high speed, and since the processing is simple, it is easy to implement hardware, and information on the start point X value and end point X value at which an arbitrary clipping figure crosses each horizontal scan line By storing and processing only this, it is possible to reduce the storage area. This will be specifically described below.

(Embodiment)
First, the configuration and operation of an image forming apparatus (printer) in which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is mounted will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a mechanism unit of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is described as a color printer. In this embodiment, a laser color printer is taken as an example, but another color printer such as an ink jet printer may be used.

  The color printer 100 shown in FIG. 1 has four colors (Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan)), and K (black)) arranged independently according to the laser beam writing and the electrophotographic process. This is a four-drum tandem engine type image forming apparatus that forms the image forming systems 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, and sequentially superimposes and transfers these four color images on a recording sheet.

  Each of the image forming systems 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K includes a photoconductor as an image carrier, for example, small-diameter OPC (organic photoconductor) drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, and the OPC drums 2Y, 2M, and 2C. The electrostatic latent images on the charging rollers 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K as charging means and the OPC drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are developed with a developer from the upstream side of image formation so as to surround 2K. Developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K that generate toner images of Y, M, C, and K colors, cleaning devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, and static eliminating devices 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K are arranged. .

  Beside each developing device 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, a toner bottle unit 7Y that supplies toner of a predetermined color to the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K with Y toner, M toner, C toner, and K toner, respectively. , 7M, 7C, 7K are arranged. In addition, each of the image forming systems 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is provided with laser-based optical writing devices 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K. The optical writing devices 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are laser light sources. Laser diode (LD) light sources 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K, collimating lenses 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, fθ lenses 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, polygon mirrors 12Y as deflection scanning means, 12M, 12C, and 12K, and folding mirrors 13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K, 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K.

  The image forming systems 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are arranged vertically, and the transfer belt unit 15 is arranged on the right side so as to be in contact with the OPC drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K. The transfer belt unit 15 is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown) with the transfer belt 16 stretched around rollers 17 to 20. A paper feed tray 21 storing recording paper as a transfer material is disposed on the lower side of the apparatus, and a fixing device 22 having a heat fixing roller and a pressure roller, a paper discharge roller 23, and a paper discharge tray 24 are arranged at the top of the apparatus. It is installed.

  At the time of image formation, in each image forming system 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, the OPC drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K are rotationally driven by a driving source (not shown), and are charged by charging rollers 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K. The OPC drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are uniformly charged, and the optical writing devices 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K modulate the laser diode based on the image data of each color, and deflect and scan the laser light to scan the OPC drum 2Y. By performing optical writing on 2M, 2C, and 2K, electrostatic latent images are formed on the OPC drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K.

  The electrostatic latent images on the OPC drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are developed by developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, respectively, to become toner images of colors Y, M, C, and K, while the paper feed tray 21 Then, the transfer paper is fed in the horizontal direction from the paper feed roller 25 and is conveyed vertically in the image forming systems 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K by the transport system. This recording paper is electrostatically attracted and held on the transfer belt 16 and conveyed by the transfer belt 16, and a transfer bias is applied by a transfer bias applying means (not shown) so as to be on the OPC drums 2Y, 2M, 2C and 2K. A full color image is formed on the recording paper by sequentially superimposing and transferring the toner images of each color Y, M, C, and K onto the recording paper. The recording paper on which the full-color image is formed is fixed by the fixing device 22 to the full-color toner image by the action of heat and pressure, and is discharged to the discharge tray 24 by the discharge roller 23.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the image processing apparatus in the color printer configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical / control system of the image forming apparatus in FIG. This electrical / control system is a CPU 101 that controls the entire color printer 100, a CPU I / F 102 that is connected to the memory controller 103 and executes interface control between the CPU 101 and the memory controller 103, a main memory 104, and a local bus of the CPU 101. A memory controller 103 that controls transfer between the decoding device, the image processing device, the encoding device, and the main memory is provided.

  Also, a drawing device 105 that receives a drawing command from the CPU 101 and draws a band of the main memory 104, an encoding device 106 that encodes binary band data in the main memory 104, and transfers the code to the main memory 104, an encoding device 106 The decoding device 107, the decoding device 107, which receives the code encoded by, decodes each plate, and transfers it to the C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) plate engine controllers. An engine controller 108 that receives image data from the printer engine 109 and transfers the image data to the printer engine 109 of each plate, and a printer engine 109 (see FIG. 1) that forms images of C, M, Y, and K plates.

  Further, the communication controller 110 connected to the network, receiving various data and commands from the network, and connected to the various controllers via the memory controller 103, stores images to be printed, the control program of the CPU 101, various data, and the like. Controls main memory 104, ROM 112, panel controller 113, etc., CPU 101, local I / F 111 for executing interface control with main memory 104, ROM 112 for storing font information such as characters, control program for CPU 101, and operation panel 114 A panel controller 113 for controlling the user, and an operation panel 114 for notifying the printer of a user input operation.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a flow of image processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the CPU 101 writes polygon clip information in the polygon clip information area 104c of the main memory. Then, a band drawing command is sent to the drawing processing apparatus 105. The main memory 104 (see FIG. 2) stores polygon clip information written by the CPU 101. The drawing device 105 reads polygon clip information in the polygon clip information area 104c of the main memory 104 in accordance with a command from the CPU 101, performs polygon clipping, and draws a band in the band memory area 104a. The main memory 104 stores the band data drawn by the drawing processing device 105. The encoding device 106 reads and encodes the band data in the band memory area 104 a of the main memory 104, and sends the code to the code page memory area 104 b of the main memory 104. The main memory 104 receives the code from the encoding device 106 and stores it. The decoding device 107 reads and decodes the code for one page including the code for each band stored in the main memory 104, transfers the code to the engine controller, and prints it out with the printer engine 109.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the concept of image processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the CPU 101 writes polygon clip information into the polygon clip information memory area 104 c of the main memory 104, generates a band drawing command, and transfers it to the drawing processing device 105. The drawing processing device 105 reads polygon clip information in the polygon clip information memory area 104 c of the main memory 104, performs polygon clipping, and draws a band in the band memory area 104 a of the main memory 104. Further, the encoding device 106 reads and encodes the band into the band memory area 104 a of the main memory 104, and writes the code into the code page memory area 104 b of the main memory 104. The main memory 104 stores polygon clip information from the CPU 101, band drawing data from the drawing processing device 105, and one code page from the encoding device 106. The code in the code page memory area 104 b of the main memory 104 is decoded by the decoding device 107 in synchronization with the printer engine 109 and transferred to the engine controller 108. The engine controller 108 transfers the gradation-processed image received from the decoding device 107 to the printer engine 109.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of the main memory 104 in FIG. The band memory area 104a stores band data. The code page memory area 104b is an area for storing a plurality of pages of encoded data of an encoded band for one page. The polygon clip information memory area 104c is an area for storing the outline information of the polygon clip as shown in FIG. 7, and for the polygon clip figure as shown in FIG. A plurality of X start points (clip start points) and X end points (clip end points) crossing the horizontal line are stored in a format as shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows another example. In the example of FIG. 8, the vertical start point (CLIPYS) and the end point (CLIPYE) where the polygon clip figure exists are separately provided and the information location of FIG. 8-2 is shown. In FIG. 9, the height of the band is shown. Since there is no clip information having a capacity and crossing the 0th horizontal line, 0 and 0 are entered at the start and end points from the beginning, indicating that there is no information. The program area is an area for storing various CPU programs.

  FIG. 7 is an example in which a rectangle is drawn in an area in which polygon clip information is specified. Reference numeral 201 on the band memory is a polygon clip, reference numeral 202 is a rectangle, reference numeral 203 is a polygon clip 201 and a rectangle 204. It is an overlap area. 8-1 is polygon clip information, and FIG. 8-2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the format of polygon clip information in FIG. 8-1. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of other polygon clip information.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the flow of the image processing in FIG. 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Processing is performed in the order of the arrow numbers as follows. The CPU 101 writes the polygon clip information in the polygon clip information memory area 104 c of the main memory 104. The drawing device 105 reads the polygon clip information in the polygon clip information memory area 104 c of the main memory 104. The drawing device 105 performs drawing processing while performing polygon clipping on the band memory area 104 a of the main memory 104. The encoding device 105 reads the completed band data from the main memory 104, performs encoding, and sends the encoded band data to the code page area of the main memory 103. The decoding device 107 reads the completed page code data from the main memory 104 and decodes it, and sends the decoded page data to the engine controller 108. The engine controller 108 controls the printer engine 109 to perform print output.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration and processing of the drawing apparatus 105 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a drawing command analyzer 122 receives a drawing command 121 (line drawing, quadrilateral drawing, etc.) from the CPU 101 and converts it into a horizontal line command. At this time, the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn is transferred to the horizontal clipping information generating device 126, and the start X value and end point X value of the horizontal line are sent to the horizontal line drawing device 123. The horizontal clipping information generation device 126 receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analysis device 122, and determines the Y value in the horizontal direction from the polygon clipping information (the contents of the polygon clip information memory area 104c of the main memory). Reads square clipping information. The horizontal line drawing device 123 starts horizontal line drawing processing from the start X value and end point X value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis device 122, generates a drawing pattern for each word in the memory, and transfers it to the gradation processing device 124. Then, the drawing word number, which is the number of horizontal words of the drawing word, is transferred to the horizontal clipping information generating device 126. The horizontal clipping information generation device 126 generates a clip pattern corresponding to the drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing device 123 and transfers it to the gradation processing device 124. The gradation processing device 124 performs gradation processing from the drawing pattern from the horizontal line drawing device 123 and the clip pattern from the horizontal clipping information generating device 126 and draws it in the band memory area 104a.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a drawing pattern generated by the horizontal line drawing device 123 and a clip pattern generated by the horizontal clipping information generation device 126 in FIG. Each pattern has the same size as one word in the memory, the clip pattern sets the effective BIT of the polygon clip figure for the horizontal line to be drawn to "1", and the drawing pattern is a rectangle drawing for the horizontal line in this example. The effective BIT is set to “1”. A pattern obtained by ANDing the drawing pattern and the clip pattern is an effective area to be drawn.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the drawing apparatus 105 in FIG. 10 and is executed by the CPU 101. In this figure, first, the drawing command analysis device 122 reads the drawing command 121 (step S1), sends the horizontal start / end point X value to the horizontal line drawing device 123, and sends the Y value to the horizontal clipping information generation device 126 (step S1). Step S2). Subsequently, the horizontal clipping information generator 126 obtains the memory address of polygon clipping information for the Y line from the Y value from the drawing command analyzer 122, and reads the clipping information for one line (step S3). Further, the horizontal line drawing device 123 obtains the start number and end number of the number of the word to be drawn based on the horizontal start / end point X value from the drawing command analysis device 122, and sets the start point to IX (step S4). The drawing word number IX is transferred to the horizontal clipping information generator 126 (step S5). Subsequently, the horizontal line drawing device 123 obtains a drawing pattern of the drawing word number IX and transfers it to the gradation processing device 124 (step S6). Further, the horizontal clipping information generation device 126 obtains a clipping pattern of the drawing word number IX and transfers it to the gradation processing device 124 (step S7). The gradation processing device 124 performs AND processing on the obtained clipping pattern and drawing pattern to obtain pixels for gradation processing, and performs gradation processing (step S8). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not IX is the end point of the drawing word number (step S9). If it is the end point, it is further determined whether or not all Y values have been processed (step S10), and all the Y values are determined. This processing operation is terminated. On the other hand, if IX is not the end point of the drawing word number in step S9, the process returns to step S5. If all Y values are not processed in step S10, the process returns to step S2.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the drawing apparatus 105 in FIG. The drawing device 105 includes a memory controller I / F 120, a drawing command analysis device 122, a horizontal line drawing device 123, a gradation processing device 124, a horizontal clipping information generation device 126, a write address generation device 127, a parameter storage device 128, and a controller 129. I have.

  The drawing command analysis device 122 receives the drawing command from the CPU 101, obtains the X start point / X end value of each horizontal line and the Y value of the horizontal line, transfers them to the horizontal line drawing device 123, and transfers the Y of the horizontal line. The value is transferred to the horizontal clipping information generator 126. The horizontal line drawing device 123 receives the X start point / X end point value of the horizontal line and the Y value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis device, and from the X start point of the horizontal line, the drawing pattern and its horizontal line in memory units. Is transferred to the gradation processing unit 124.

  Further, the word number on the horizontal line of the generated drawing pattern is transferred to the horizontal clipping information generating device 126. The horizontal clipping information generation device 126 receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analysis device 122, and generates the address of the Y value of the polygon clip information memory area 104c of the main memory 104 to the memory controller I / F 120. The plurality of clip start points and clip end points of the Y value scan line are received from the polygon clip information memory area 104 c of the main memory 104 through the memory controller I / F 120.

  Then, word numbers to be drawn are sequentially received from the horizontal line drawing device 123, a clip pattern is generated, and transferred to the gradation processing device 124. The gradation processing device 124 sequentially receives the drawing pattern from the horizontal line drawing device 123 and the clip pattern from the horizontal clipping information generation device 126, and performs C-, M-, Y-, and K-version on the pattern obtained by ANDing these two patterns. The dither process is performed, and the drawing process is performed on the band memory area 104 a of the main memory 104 through the memory controller I / F 120. The write address generator 127 generates a memory address of the band memory area 104 a of the main memory 104 in synchronization with the C, M, Y, and K plane data of the gradation processor 124. The parameter storage device 128 is set by the CPU 101 and stores parameters necessary for the drawing device 105. The controller 129 controls the entire drawing apparatus 105.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the horizontal clipping information generating device 126 in FIG. The horizontal clipping information generation device 126 includes a polygon clip information reading device 130, a polygon clip data storage device 131, a target word start / end point X generation device 132, a drawing clip pattern generation device 133, and a drawing word end point X value generation device. 134, a polygonal clip address generation device 135 is provided.

  The polygon clip address generation device 135 receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analysis device 122, calculates the polygon clip information address of the Y line in the main memory 104, and sends the polygon to the memory controller I / F 103. Transfer clip reading address. The polygon clip information reading device 130 transfers the polygon clip information of the Y line of the main memory 104 accessed by the address obtained by the polygon clip address generation device 135 to the polygon clip data storage device 131.

  Further, the polygon clip data storage device 131 stores the Y-line polygon clip information from the polygon clip information reading device 130 and transfers it to the target word start / end point X generation device 132. The drawing word start / end X value generator 134 receives the word number of the memory of the horizontal line to be drawn from the horizontal line drawing device 123, and obtains the start X value and end X value of the word as shown in FIG. .

  15, in the example in which the drawing word number is 5, assuming that the number of BITs of the memory word is 32, the number of memory words BIT × the drawing word number = the drawing word start X value, so that 32 × 5 = 160. Since the number of memory words BIT × (drawing word number + 1) = drawing word end point X value, 32 × 6 = 192.

  The target word start / end point X generation device 132 also draws a plurality of clip start / end values that are polygon clip information from the polygon clip data storage device 131 and a drawing word start / end point X value generation device 134. The word start / end X value is received, the horizontal start X value and the horizontal end X value are obtained, and transferred to the drawing clip pattern generation device 133. The horizontal start X value and the horizontal end point X value are the horizontal start X value and the horizontal end point X value of the drawing word start point X value and the drawing word end point X value as in the example of the drawing word number 7 shown in FIG. The start point X value and end point X value of the inside clip pattern are obtained.

  The drawing clip pattern generation device 133 receives the clip pattern start point X value, end point X value, and clip flag from the target word start / end point X generation device, and generates a clip pattern. Does this clip flag show / do not have a drawable area? If this flag is “0” (there is no drawable area), the clip pattern is unconditionally 0x00000.

  FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the polygon clip data storage device 131 in FIG. The polygon clip data storage device 131 includes registers 136, 138, 140, 142 for storing horizontal start X values, and registers 137, 139, 141, 143 for storing horizontal end X values, respectively.

  17A and 17B are flowcharts illustrating the processing operation of the horizontal clipping information generation device 126 in FIG. In the figure, in steps S11 to S16, a drawing word start / end X value generator 134 draws a drawing word start X for a plurality of clip start / end X values of polygon clip information in the polygon clip data storage device 131. The value and the drawing word end point X value are compared to determine the related clip start / end point X value. Further, in steps S7 to S37, a horizontal start X value and a horizontal end point X value to be sent to the drawing clip pattern generation device 133 are obtained from the related clip start / end point X value, drawing word start X value, and drawing word end point X value. . Here, the processing in steps S17 to S23 will be described in detail. In steps S17 to S23, it is confirmed whether the related clip start / end point X value and drawing word start X value are first, and in steps S17 to S20. The larger one of the clip start X value and the drawing word start X value is set as the horizontal start X value. In steps S21 to S23, the smaller one of the clip end point X value and the drawing word end X value is set as the horizontal end point X value. Yes.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the drawing clip pattern generation device 133 in the horizontal clipping information generation device 126 of FIG. In the figure, first, it is determined whether or not the clip flag is 0 (step S41). If the clip flag is 0, the clip pattern is set to 0x0000 0000 (step S42), and the process proceeds to step S44. On the other hand, if the clip flag is not 0 in step 41, a clip pattern is generated from the horizontal start / end X values (step S43). Subsequently, the clip pattern is transferred to the gradation processing device 124 (step S44), and this processing operation is terminated.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the horizontal line drawing device 123 in the drawing device 105 of FIG. First, the horizontal line drawing device 123 obtains the start number and end number of the number of the word to be drawn based on the horizontal start / end point X value from the drawing command analysis device 122, and sets the start point to IX (step S51). Subsequently, the drawing word number IX is transferred to the horizontal clipping information generating device 126 (step S52). Further, it is determined whether IX is the left end and the right end (step S53). Here, when IX is the left end and the right end, a drawing pattern is generated from the horizontal start X value and the horizontal end X value (step S54). On the other hand, if IX is the left end and not the right end in step S53, it is further determined whether or not IX is the left end (step S55). Here, when IX is the left end, a drawing pattern is generated from the horizontal start X value (step S56). On the other hand, if IX is not the left end in step S55, it is further determined whether or not IX is the right end (step S57). When IX is the right end here, a drawing pattern is generated from the horizontal end point X value. On the other hand, if IX is not the right end in step S57, the drawing pattern is set to 0xFFFF FFFF (step S59), and the drawing pattern is transferred to the gradation processing device 124 (step S60). Then, it is determined whether IX is the end point of the drawing word (step S61), and the above operation is repeatedly executed until the end point is reached. Further, after executing steps S54, S56, and S58, the process proceeds to step S60.

  FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the gradation processing device 124 in FIG. In the figure, the gradation processing device 124 includes a threshold matrix address generation device 145, a threshold matrix storage device 146, a data distribution device 147, comparison devices 148 to 151, fixed-length data generation devices 152 to 155 for each color, and each color. FIFO (First-In First-Out) 156 to 159, MUX (multiplexer) 160, CMYK address generation device 161, MUX (multiplexer) 162, AND device 163, and controller 164.

  The threshold matrix address generator 145 receives the threshold size and generates an address for the threshold matrix store 146. The threshold matrix storage device 146 stores various threshold matrices. The data distribution device 147 receives the threshold values for the C, M, Y, and K plates from the threshold matrix storage device 146 and distributes the values to the determination devices for each plate.

  The comparison device 148 receives and compares the threshold value of the C plate from the data distribution device 147 and the pixel data of the C plate from the parameter storage device 128 (see FIG. 13), and compares the data after gradation processing of the C plate. create. The comparison device 149 receives and compares the M version threshold value from the data distribution device 147 and the M version pixel data from the parameter storage device 128 (see FIG. 13), and compares the M version gradation-processed data. create. The comparison device 150 receives and compares the Y version threshold value from the data distribution device 147 and the Y plate pixel data from the parameter storage device 128 (see FIG. 13), and compares the Y plate gradation processed data. create. The comparison device 151 receives and compares the K version threshold value from the data distribution device 147 and the K plate pixel data from the parameter storage device 128 (see FIG. 13), and compares the K plate gradation processed data. create.

  The C fixed length data generation device 152 sequentially receives the data after the gradation processing of the C plane from the comparison device 148 and converts it into fixed length data (see FIG. 22). The M fixed length data generation device 153 sequentially receives the data after the M-level gradation processing from the comparison device 149 and converts it into fixed length data (see FIG. 22). The Y fixed length data generation device 154 sequentially receives the data after Y-level gradation processing from the comparison device 150 and converts it into fixed length data (see FIG. 22). The K fixed length data generation device 155 sequentially receives the data after gradation processing of the K plane from the comparison device 151 and converts it into fixed length data (see FIG. 22).

  The C-FIFO 156 receives the word data after the C version gradation processing from the C fixed length data generation device 152 and temporarily stores it. The M-FIFO 157 receives the word data after the M version gradation processing from the M fixed length data generation device 153 and temporarily stores it. The Y-FIFO 158 receives the word data after Y version gradation processing from the Y fixed length data generation device 154 and temporarily stores it. The K-FIFO 157 receives the word data after the K version gradation processing from the K fixed length data generation device 155 and temporarily stores it.

  The MUX 160 receives the data from the FIFOs 156 to 159 of each version of YMCK, selects them sequentially, and transfers them to the memory controller I / F 120. The CMYK address generation device 161 adds the origin address of each plate to the start address which is a physical address from the horizontal line drawing device 123, obtains the start address of each plate, and transfers it to the MUX 162. The MUX 162 selects the start address of the image data after gradation processing to be written in the main memory 104 from the start address of each version of CMYK, and transfers it to the write address generation device 127 (see FIG. 13). The AND device 163 receives the drawing pattern from the horizontal line drawing device 123 (see FIG. 13) and the clip pattern from the horizontal clipping information generation device 126 (see FIG. 13), performs AND processing, obtains a drawing area, and Transfer to 164. The controller 164 controls the entire gradation processing device 124.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the gradation processing device 124 configured as shown in FIG. This series of operations is executed by the controller 164. First, a drawing pattern AND clip pattern is set as WDATA (step S71), and IX is initialized to 0 (step S72). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the IX bit of WDATA is 1 (step S73). Here, when the IXth bit of WDATA is 1, the threshold values (C, Y, M, K) data are compared by the comparison devices 148 to 151 and binarized (step S74). Further, the binary or (C, M, Y, K) data is added to the fixed length data (step S75). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the data has grown to a fixed length (step S76). If the data has grown, the fixed length data of C, M, Y, and K is written to each of the FIFOs 156 to 159 (step S77). Are counted up in the horizontal direction (step S78).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the dither horizontal address exceeds the horizontal size (step S79). If the size is exceeded, the dither address is cleared from the horizontal address (step S80), and it is determined whether IX is the final BIT (step S81). If IX is not the final BIT, the IX is advanced by one (step S82), and the process returns to step S73.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S81 that IX is the final BIT, the data after gradation processing in the C, M, Y, K FIFO is sequentially written to the band memory area 104a of the main memory 104 indicated by the head address (step S81). S83), it is determined whether there is data that has not reached the fixed length (step S84). Here, if there is data that has not reached the fixed length, data after gradation processing that has not reached the fixed length is written to the band memory area 104 a of the main memory 104.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S73 that the first bit of WDATA is not 1, the process proceeds to step S79. If the data has not grown to the fixed length in step S76, the process proceeds to step S78. If the dither horizontal address does not exceed the horizontal size in step S79, the process proceeds to step S81.

  FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the fixed-length data generating apparatuses 152 to 155 for each version in FIG. Each of the fixed-length data generation devices 152 to 155 includes a shifter 165, an OR device 166, a register 167, a register 168, a register 169, and an adder 170.

  The shifter 165 receives binary data from the comparison devices 148 to 151 (see FIG. 20), shifts the value from the register 169, and transfers it to the OR device 166. The OR device 166 ORs the binary data shifted by the shifter 165 and sends it to the register 167. The register 167 stores the added binary data that has been ORed by the OR device 166. The register 168 stores data that has reached the fixed length. The adder 170 adds “1” every time binary data is received from the comparison devices 148 to 151 (see FIG. 20). The register 169 stores the shift value.

  By the way, the image processing method (operation) described so far can be programmed, recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and executed on the computer. Further, a part of the image processing method can be provided on a network and realized through a communication line.

  That is, the image processing method described in this embodiment is realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer (CPU 30) such as a personal computer or a workstation as shown in FIG. This program is operated by a computer such as a memory 31, a hard disk 34, a flexible disk 37, a CD-ROM (Compact-Disc Read Only Memory) 36, an MO (Magneto Optical), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) by operating the keyboard 35. The program is recorded on a readable recording medium, read from the recording medium by a computer (CPU 30), and displayed on the display device 33 as necessary. In addition, data of this image processing method can be transmitted and received from the communication device 32 to an external device as necessary.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 24, this program can be distributed to devices 41 to 43 such as a personal computer via the recording medium via a network such as the Internet 30.

  That is, this program can be provided in a state of being installed in advance on a hard disk as a recording medium built in the computer, for example. The program can be temporarily or permanently stored in a recording medium, and can be provided as packaged software by being incorporated in a computer as a unit or being used as a removable recording medium.

  As the recording medium, for example, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO disk, a DVD, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, and the like can be used.

  The program can be transferred from a download site to a computer wired or wirelessly via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and downloaded to a storage device such as a built-in hard disk in the computer. .

  As described above, an image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present invention, and a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method is recorded are an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a printer, a digital It is useful for cameras and the like, and is particularly suitable for an image processing system that needs to perform drawing processing of an arbitrary polygon clipping figure with a small memory capacity and high speed.

3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a mechanism unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electrical / control system of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the image processing concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the concept of the image processing concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a format of the main memory in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the image processing in FIG. 2 concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which draws a rectangle in the area | region where polygon clip information was designated. It is explanatory drawing which shows the horizontal line address with respect to a polygon clip figure and the said figure. It is a chart which shows the format in FIGS. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a format with respect to a polygon clip figure. It is a block diagram which shows the structure and process of the drawing apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the drawing pattern which the horizontal line drawing apparatus in FIG. 10 produces | generates, and the clip pattern which a horizontal clipping information production | generation apparatus produces | generates. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the drawing apparatus in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the drawing apparatus in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the horizontal clipping information generation apparatus in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the drawing pattern and clip pattern processing operation concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the polygon clip data storage apparatus in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation (1) of the horizontal clipping information generation apparatus in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation (2) of the horizontal clipping information generation apparatus in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the drawing clip pattern generation apparatus in the horizontal clipping information generation apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the horizontal line drawing apparatus in the drawing apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the gradation processing apparatus in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the gradation processing apparatus comprised like FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the fixed length data generation apparatus of each version in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example which makes a computer perform the image processing method concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example which downloads and performs the image processing method concerning embodiment of this invention from a network. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the conventional reentrant type (or reentry) polygon clipping.

Explanation of symbols

100 color printer 101 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 Memory controller 104 Main memory 104a Band memory area 104b Code page memory area 104c Polygon clip information memory area 105 Drawing apparatus 106 Encoding apparatus 107 Decoding apparatus 108 Engine controller 109 Printer engine 121 Drawing command 122 Drawing command analysis apparatus 123 Horizontal line Drawing device 124 Gradation processing device 125 Polygonal clip information 126 Horizontal clipping information generating device 127 Write address generating device 131 Polygonal clip data storage device

Claims (5)

In an image processing apparatus that captures arbitrary polygon clipping information and performs drawing output,
A data storage area for storing the polygon clipping information and the image data after rendering;
Transfer / control means for writing polygon clipping information in the data storage area and transferring a band drawing command;
The polygon clipping information stored in the data storage area is scanned in the horizontal direction, the starting point and the end point of a clipping figure intersecting the line are read for each line, and polygon clipping is executed, and the data storage area A drawing means for drawing the image data after the drawing,
An image processing apparatus comprising: The drawing processing means includes:
A drawing command analyzing means, a horizontal clipping information generating means, a horizontal line drawing means, and a horizontal clipping information generating means,
The drawing command analysis unit receives a drawing command from the transfer / control unit, transfers a Y value of a horizontal line to be drawn to the horizontal clipping information generation unit, and sends a horizontal line start X value to the horizontal line drawing unit. Send end X value,
The horizontal clipping information generating means receives the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analyzing means, reads the horizontal polygon clipping information of the Y value from the polygon clipping information,
The horizontal line drawing means starts horizontal line drawing processing from the start X value and end point X value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis means, generates a drawing pattern for each word of the data storage means, and generates the gradation Transfer to the processing means, transfer the drawing word number which is the number of horizontal words of the drawing word to the horizontal clipping information generation means,
The horizontal clipping information generation unit generates a clip pattern corresponding to a drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing unit, and draws the drawn image data in the data storage area. Image processing device. In an image processing method for drawing and outputting arbitrary polygon clipping information,
A data storage area for storing the polygon clipping information and the image data after rendering;
A polygon transfer information is written in the data storage area, and a transfer / control step for transferring a band drawing command;
The polygon clipping information stored in the data storage area is scanned in the horizontal direction, the starting point and the end point of a clipping figure intersecting the line are read for each line, and polygon clipping is executed, and the data storage area A drawing process of drawing as image data band data after drawing on;
An image processing method comprising: The drawing processing step includes
The drawing command analysis step, horizontal clipping information generation step, horizontal line drawing step, and horizontal clipping information generation step,
The drawing command analysis step receives a drawing command from the transfer / control step, transfers the Y value of the horizontal line to be drawn to the horizontal clipping information generation step, and starts the horizontal line start X value and the end point to the horizontal line drawing step. Send X value,
The horizontal clipping information generation step receives the Y value of a horizontal line to be drawn from the drawing command analysis step, reads the horizontal polygon clipping information of the Y value from the polygon clipping information,
The horizontal line drawing step starts horizontal line drawing processing from the start X value and end point X value of the horizontal line from the drawing command analysis step, generates a drawing pattern for each word of the data storage means, and generates the gradation Transfer to the processing step, transfer the drawing word number, which is the number of horizontal words of the drawing word, to the horizontal clipping information generation step,
4. The horizontal clipping information generation step generates a clip pattern corresponding to a drawing word number from the horizontal line drawing step, and draws the drawn image data in the data storage area. Image processing method.   5. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 3 is recorded.

Images