JP2005324425A - Image forming apparatus and control program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a high speed printing operation and to obtain a precise output result when print data including a transparent component is inputted. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus comprises an analyzing means 14-3 for analyzing various kinds of objects to be plotted according to image data including a transparent component, a judgment means 14-4 for judging whether or not there is an overlapped part in image-plotting regions of two or more objects analyzed in the above, a dividing means 14-5 for dividing the overlapped part from the non-overlapped part obtained by subtracting the overlapped part from the analyzed objects, a color synthesizing means 14-6 for forming a color synthesizing object obtained by colors of the objects in the overlapped part, and an image forming means 14-8 for forming an output image based on the non-overlapped objects divided by the dividing means 14-5 and the color synthesizing object formed by the color synthesizing means 14-6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control program thereof, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that performs output processing based on image data including a transparent component and a control program thereof.

  Conventional image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers (copiers), facsimile machines, and multifunction devices (multifunction peripherals (MFPs)) input printer control codes such as PDL (Page-Description Language) from a host computer. Then, the printer control code is analyzed and classified into drawing information of each object consisting of a vector, an image, and a text. Then, the image forming apparatus generates dot image data for actually performing the printing process based on the drawing information of each classified object, and performs output processing to the printing paper by sending this to the engine unit (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when an object including a transparent component exists in the classified drawing information, all the objects (vector, image, text) in the page are dot-based based on the drawing information of each object. By converting to image data and performing color composition processing on a pixel-by-pixel basis for a portion where the drawing range of an object including a transparent component overlaps, an image format and PDL consisting of a single dot image data without the concept of transparency was obtained. .

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of image processing of print data including a transparent component in a conventional image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 14, FIG. 14A shows print data including a transparent component input to the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 14B shows a command for analyzing each classified object (vector, image). , Text) drawing information, FIG. 14C shows one image object obtained by converting all objects into dot image data of the same resolution and performing color synthesis processing on the overlapping portion in units of pixels. ing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-270172 (page 4-5, FIG. 2)

However, as described above, according to the conventional image forming apparatus, all the output images drawn based on the printer control code including the transparent component are once converted into the dot image data. There is a problem that the free space of the memory in the apparatus is compressed.
Furthermore, if an output image is to be drawn smoothly, all objects must be made to have high resolution when converted to dot image data, resulting in a problem that the image data size is further increased.
There is also a problem that the processing speed is inevitably slowed down as the image data size increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When print data including a transparent component is input, each drawing is performed without converting drawing information of each object into dot image data. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and its control program capable of realizing high-speed printing processing and obtaining a precise output result by using an object holding information.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an analysis unit that analyzes various objects drawn based on image data including a transparent component, and an overlapping portion in the drawing range of two or more analyzed objects. An overlap determining unit that determines whether or not there is, a separating unit that separates the overlapping portion from a non-overlapping portion obtained by subtracting the overlapping portion when the overlap determining unit determines that there is an overlapping portion; Based on color composition means for generating a color composition object by color-synthesizing the objects in the overlapped part separated by the above, a non-overlapping part object carved by the separation means, and a color composition object generated by the color composition means And an image generating means for generating an output image.

If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, the overlap determining unit determines whether there is an overlapping part in the drawing range of two or more objects analyzed by the analyzing unit. In this case, the separating unit can separate the overlapping portion and the non-overlapping portion obtained by subtracting the overlapping portion from the analyzed object. Therefore, the color composition unit can generate a color composition object that is color-combined only for the range cut as the overlapping portion, and the image generation unit can output the output image based on the non-overlapping portion object and the color composition object. Can be generated.
That is, according to the present invention, since the object to be subjected to the color composition processing is limited to the overlapping portion of the object, it is not necessary to convert all the image data into dot image data as in the conventional case. The size can be minimized, the free space of the memory in the apparatus can be secured, and high-speed printing processing can be realized. In addition, since the color synthesizing process is performed on the overlapping portion of the object, a precise output result can be obtained.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a table storage unit that stores an object management table in which the non-overlapping portion objects separated by the separation unit and the color composition object generated by the color composition unit are registered, and is analyzed. When the new object is analyzed by the means, the overlap determining means determines whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range between the reference object and the object stored in the table storage means. An object management table in which a non-overlapping part object cut according to the analysis of a new object and a color synthesis object generated by the color synthesis unit are registered is stored as a new object management table. A configuration for generating an output image based on a management table; And Aru.

If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, the table storage means stores an object management table in which the non-overlapping portion objects carved by the carving means and the color composition object generated by the color composition means are registered. Therefore, when the new object is analyzed by the analyzing unit, the overlap determining unit determines whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range between the new object and the object stored in the table storage unit. be able to. Further, the table storage means stores a new object management table in which the non-overlapping part object carved by the carving means and the color composite object generated by the color compositing means are registered according to the analysis of the new object. The image generation means can generate an output image based on the new object management table.
For this reason, it is possible to determine the overlap between the analyzed new object and the plurality of objects in the table, and an output image can be obtained by a minimum color composition process between the plurality of objects.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the overlap determining unit determines that the non-overlapping part in the new object is a new new object and the new new object and the new object management table In this configuration, it is determined whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range with the object for which the overlapping determination is not performed.

If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, the non-overlapping judgment unit determines whether the non-overlapping part in the new object exists in the non-overlapping part carved by the carving means, that is, is analyzed. In order to determine whether or not the drawing range of the new object falls within the drawing range of the object in the table to be compared, the overlap determination means determines that the new object is present when it is determined that a non-overlapping part exists. The non-overlapping part in FIG. 5 is set as a new new object, and it can be determined whether or not there is an overlapping part in the drawing range of the new new object and the object in the new object management table.
For this reason, when the overlap determination unit sequentially determines the object analyzed by the analysis unit as a new object and a plurality of objects in the table, the non-overlapping part in the new object does not exist in the non-overlapping part. In other words, to determine the overlap with the object in the table repeatedly only for the range where the overlapping part of the drawing range with other objects in the table may exist, determine the overlapping part with the minimum necessary drawing range. Can do.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a non-overlap determining unit that determines whether or not a non-overlapping part in the new object analyzed by the analyzing unit exists in the non-overlapping part cut by the cutting unit. The storage means is configured to migrate an object in the object management table that has not yet been judged to overlap with the new object to the new object management table when the non-overlapping judgment means judges that there is no non-overlapping part. .

If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, the non-overlapping judgment means judges whether or not the non-overlapping part in the new object exists in the non-overlapping part carved by the carving means. When it is determined by the non-overlap determining means that there is no non-overlapping part, an object in the object management table that has not yet been determined to overlap with the new object can be transferred to the new object management table.
That is, the absence of a non-overlapping part means that the drawing range of the new object is included in the drawing range of the object in the object management table that is the comparison target. There is no overlapping portion with an object in the object management table that has not yet been determined to overlap with a new object. Therefore, it is not necessary to make an overlap determination with an object that has not yet been determined to overlap with another new object, and the object in the object management table can be transferred to the new object management table as it is.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a composite object creating unit that creates a composite object that creates and holds a plurality of pieces of object information based on the objects in the overlapped portion separated by the separating unit. The output image is generated based on the object.

  If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, the composite object creating unit can create a composite object capable of holding a plurality of pieces of object information. Therefore, when printing based on an object including transparency, The object information can be used as it is without being converted into an image. For this reason, high-speed printing processing can be realized and a precise output result can be obtained.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the composite object creating unit creates a composite object when a text object is included in the object in the overlapping portion carved by the carving unit.

If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, a composite object capable of holding a plurality of objects is created, and thus the text object itself can be held in the composite object.
For example, if vector objects are overlapped, a vector object is generated. If a vector object and an image object overlap, an image object is generated. If text objects overlap, the font information is converted into vector information. It can be handled as a vector object, or once a text object is drawn in a virtual area, it can be converted into image information and handled as an image object.

However, in the former, there is a demerit that the coordinate information and drawing operator information that must be held by converting the font into a vector is enormous, and the amount of information can be greatly reduced by holding it as a font object.
On the other hand, in the latter case, since the image is once dropped into an image, character drawing is deteriorated when the image is dropped at a low resolution, and when the image is dropped at a high resolution, there is a demerit that the amount of data of image information becomes enormous.
For these reasons, in the case of overlapping text objects, it is more advantageous to retain the text objects themselves. Therefore, in the present invention, a composite object capable of retaining a plurality of objects is created. did.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a PDL conversion unit that converts an object stored in the table storage unit into an arbitrary PDL having no concept of transparency, and the image processing unit converts the converted arbitrary The output image is generated based on the PDL.

  If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, the PDL conversion unit converts the PDL conversion unit into an arbitrary PDL having no concept of transparency based on the object stored in the table storage unit. An output image can be generated based on the given PDL, and a high-speed and highly accurate output image can be obtained.

  In addition, the control program of the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an analysis step for analyzing various objects drawn based on image data including a transparent component, and whether there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range of the two or more analyzed objects. An overlap determination step for determining whether there is an overlap portion, a separation step for separating the overlap portion from a non-overlap portion obtained by subtracting the overlap portion, and a separation step when the overlap determination step determines that there is an overlap portion Output based on a color composition step that generates a color composition object by color-synthesizing the objects in the overlapped portion, a non-overlapping portion object that has been separated in the separation step, and a color composition object that has been generated in the color composition step An image forming apparatus control process for causing the image forming apparatus to execute an image generating step for generating an image. There as a gram.

If the control program of the image forming apparatus is such a program, for example, the recording medium storing the control program is directly mounted on the image forming apparatus equipped with a computer and is read by the computer. In order to determine whether there is an overlapping part in the drawing range of two or more objects analyzed in the analysis step, if it is determined that there is an overlapping part, it is analyzed as an overlapping part in the separation step A non-overlapping part obtained by subtracting an overlapping part from an object can be separated. Therefore, in the color synthesis step, it is possible to generate a color synthesis object that is color-synthesized only for the range cut as the overlapping portion, and in the image generation step, the output image is based on the non-overlapping portion object and the color synthesis object. Can be generated.
That is, according to the present invention, since the object to be subjected to the color composition processing is limited to the overlapping portion of the object, it is not necessary to convert all the image data into dot image data as in the conventional case. The size can be minimized, the free space of the memory in the apparatus can be secured, and high-speed printing processing can be realized. In addition, since the color synthesizing process is performed on the overlapping portion of the object, a precise output result can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, when it is determined that there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range of two or more analyzed objects, the separation is performed to separate the overlapping portion from a non-overlapping portion obtained by subtracting the overlapping portion from the analyzed object. An output image is generated based on the means, a color composition unit that generates a color composition object by color-combining the objects in the separated overlapping portion, the separated non-overlapping portion object, and the generated color composition object Since the image generation means is provided, it is not necessary to convert the drawing information of each object into dot image data, and a free memory space can be secured and high-speed printing processing can be realized. Furthermore, since the color synthesis process is performed on the overlapping portion of the object, a precise output result can be obtained.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
However, although the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a copying machine as a specific example, the image forming apparatus described in the following embodiments is not limited to a copying machine. For example, a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, Includes digital complex devices (multifunction peripherals (MFPs)) and the like.

  Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus in the embodiment is a printer, the printer includes various printing methods such as an ink jet printer, a sublimation type thermal transfer printer, a dot impact printer, a laser printer, and a fusion type thermal transfer printer. Is included.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image reading unit 11, an input unit 12, a display unit 13, a control unit 14, an HDD 15, and a printing mechanism unit 16.
The image reading unit 11 is constituted by, for example, a scanner. When an image is read from a document, the image reading unit 11 generates and outputs image data based on the image information. The output image data is sent to the data analysis unit 14-3 of the control means 14.
When the image forming apparatus 10 is, for example, a network printer connected to a host computer via a network, the image reading unit 11 is configured by an I / O unit and transmitted from the host computer. It is also possible to read the image data included in the print command.

The input unit 12 performs various settings for print processing performed in the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the input unit 12 outputs a reading execution command for executing image reading to the input control unit 14-1 of the control unit 14 by an input operation.
The display means 13 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device or a cathode ray tube display device, and displays the information data sent from the display control unit 14-2 on the screen.

The control unit 14 is a device that performs overall control of the functions of the image forming apparatus 10 and includes a CPU and a memory. The control unit 14 includes an input control unit 14-1, a display control unit 14-2, a data analysis unit 14-3, and an overlap determination unit. 14-4, an object segmentation unit 14-5, a color synthesis unit 14-6, a table storage unit 14-7, a RIP processing unit 14-8, and an engine control unit 14-9.
The input control unit 14-1 receives data set and input by the input unit 12. Accordingly, the control unit 14 controls various functions of the image forming apparatus 10 based on the setting contents.
The display control unit 14-2 sends various information data to the display unit 13 for display.

The data analysis unit (analysis unit) 14-3 analyzes various objects drawn based on the image data including the transparent component. That is, the data analysis unit 14-3 analyzes whether the object drawn based on the input image data is a vector object, an image object, or a text object, and adds transparency to the analyzed object. It is analyzed whether or not information (α) is included.
FIGS. 2A to 2C show information contents of various objects that can be analyzed by the data analysis unit 14-3 of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the vector object information includes color information, clip information, path information, stroke information, paint mode information, and transparency information (α). That is, the data analysis unit 14-3 can analyze that the image data is composed of a vector object by reading stroke information that is information unique to the vector object.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2B, the image object information includes color information, clip information, image information, and transparency information (α). That is, the data analysis unit 14-3 can analyze that the image data is composed of an image object by reading image information that is information unique to the image object.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the text object information includes color information, clip information, font information, text information, and transparency information (α). That is, the data analysis unit 14-3 can analyze that the image data is composed of a text object by reading text information that is information unique to the text object.

Further, the objects that are separated by the object separation unit 14-5, which will be described later, and further generated by the color composition unit 14-6, which will be described later, are also identified by the object information shown in FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (c). In this case, in addition to the vector object, the image object, and the text object, a composite object can also be generated.
As shown in FIG. 2D, the information of the composite object includes clip information and object information, and this object information can include vector object information, image object information, and text object information. Note that these object information can be nested.

  The overlap determination unit (overlap determination unit) 14-4 determines whether there is an overlap portion in the drawing range of two or more objects analyzed by the data analysis unit 14-3. For example, the overlap determination unit 14-4 determines whether there is an overlap portion in the drawing range between the new object A and an object stored in a table storage unit 14-7 described later. Since the drawing range of the object is specified by the clip information held by each object, the overlap determining unit 14-4 determines the presence / absence of the overlapping portion by comparing the clip information held by each object.

In addition, the overlap determination unit 14-4 includes a non-overlap determination unit 14-4a.
The non-overlap determining unit 14-4a determines whether or not a non-overlapping part in the new object A analyzed by the data analyzing unit 14-3 exists in the non-overlapping part cut by the object dividing unit 14-5. To do. That is, it is determined whether or not the drawing range of the new object A is all within the drawing range of any object in the comparison target table.
Therefore, when the non-overlap determining unit 14-4a determines that the non-overlapping part in the new object A exists in the separated non-overlapping part, the overlap determining unit 14-4 determines the non-overlapping part in the new object A. A new new object A ′ is determined, and it is determined whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range between the new new object A ′ and the object in the table storage unit 14-7.

When the overlap determination unit 14-4 determines that there is an overlapped portion, the object cutout unit (cutting unit) 14-5 determines the overlapped portion from the overlapped object and the object analyzed by the data analysis unit 14-3. Separate the subtracted non-overlapping parts.
The color synthesizing unit (color synthesizing unit) 14-6 generates a color synthesizing object obtained by color synthesizing the objects in the overlapped portion separated by the object segmenting unit 14-5.

The table storage unit (table storage unit) 14-7 is configured by a memory or the like, and the non-overlapping part object separated by the object separation unit 14-5 and the color composition generated by the color composition unit 14-6. An object management table in which objects are registered is stored.
When the new new object A ′ is analyzed by the data analysis unit 14-3, the table storage unit 14-7 includes the non-overlapping part object and the color synthesis unit 14− which are separated by the object separation unit 14-5. The object management table in which the color composition object generated by 6 is registered is stored as a new object management table.
Further, when the non-overlap determining unit 14-4a determines that there is no non-overlapping part in the new object A, the table storage unit 14-7 has not yet been determined to overlap with the new object A. The object in the section 14-7 is moved to the new object management table and registered.

The image generation unit (image generation unit) 14-8 includes a PDL conversion unit 14-8a and a RIP processing unit 14-8b.
The PDL conversion unit 14-8a converts the PDL conversion unit 14-8a into an arbitrary PDL having no concept of transparency based on the object stored in the table storage unit 14-7. If the new object management table has been updated, it is converted into various PDLs based on the new object management table.
The RIP processing unit 14-8b is a device that rasterizes (develops) data described in various PDLs into a bitmap (raster image).
Therefore, the image generation unit 14-8 generates an output image based on the non-overlapping part object cut by the object cutting unit 14-5 and the color synthesis object generated by the color synthesis unit 14-6. This is output to the engine control unit 14-9. In addition, when a new new object management table is stored in the table storage unit 14-7, the image generation unit 14-8 generates an output image based on the new object management table, and performs engine control. Output to the unit 14-9.
When the engine control unit 14-9 receives the output image generated by the RIP processing unit 14-8, the engine control unit 14-9 controls the printing mechanism unit 16 according to the output image to execute a printing process based on the output image.

The HDD 15 is a storage device in the image forming apparatus 10 and receives image information from the control unit 14 and stores it. In the first embodiment, a hard disk drive is used as a storage device for image information and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other devices such as a memory and a DVD may be used as long as the storage device is used. Absent.
The printing mechanism unit 16 is a device that is controlled by the engine control unit 14-9 and performs printing on a sheet based on an output image.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a description will be given of the separation processing operation between the overlapping portion and the non-overlapping portion of the drawing range of each object in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
First, when the data analysis unit 14-3 receives the image data input from the image reading unit 11, the object type included in the image data is read by reading the object information included in the data. (Step S301 (analysis step)).
That is, the data analysis unit 14-3 determines that the object information includes a vector object if the object information includes stroke information, an image object if the image information is included, and a text object if the text information is included. Determine the type.

  Here, the following steps S302 to S308 are loop processing, and the processing in the loop is repeated until “i = 1 to n”. “N” indicates the number of objects registered in the object management table TB [i].

When the type of the object is analyzed in step S301 (this analyzed object is set as a new object A), the overlap determination unit 14-4 determines that the new object A and the object Obj [1] in the object management table TB [1]. ] Is determined whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range (step S302 (overlap determination step)).
If a plurality of objects are analyzed as a result of the analysis in step S301, the following steps are executed with one object as a new object A based on an arbitrary priority order, and then another object is selected. It is assumed that the same processing is repeated for the new object A again.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a comparison between a new object and an object management table in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the overlap determination unit 14-4 repeats Steps S302 to S308, thereby determining overlap between the new object A and the objects Obj [1] to Obj [n] in the table TB [1]. Repeat in order.
In the first embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the overlap is determined in the order of the objects Obj [1] to Obj [n]. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each object is determined in a predetermined order. As long as the comparison is made, any order may be used.

First, in step S302, when it is determined that there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range of both objects, the object separation unit 14-5 determines that the overlapping object B including the overlapping portion of both objects and the non-overlapping in the new object A A non-overlapping part object C composed of parts and a non-overlapping part object D composed of non-overlapping parts in the object Obj [1] are separated (step S303 (separation step)).
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating object separation in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

When each object is cut out in step S303, the color composition unit 14-6 generates a color composition object B by performing color composition of the overlapping part object B (step S304 (color composition step)).
When the color composite object B is generated in step S304, the control means 14
The color composition object B and the non-overlapping part object D are registered in the new object management table TB [2] in the table storage unit 14-7 (step S305). Each object registered in the new object management table TB [2] overlaps with the new object A2 when new image data is input to the image forming apparatus 10 and the new object A2 is analyzed. Is determined.

Here, the non-overlap determining unit 14-4a determines whether or not the object C exists (step S306). That is, it is determined whether or not the entire drawing range of the new object A is within the drawing range of the object Obj [1].
FIG. 6 illustrates each object drawing range when the object C does not exist in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
If the object C exists as a result of the determination in step S306 (see FIG. 5), the control means 14 sets this object C as a new new object A ′ (step S307).
In step S308, the value of “i” is incremented, and steps S302 to S308 are repeated again. When the value of “i” in step S308 becomes “i = n”, the new object at that time is TB Register in [2] to end the process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S302 that there is no overlapping portion in the drawing range of both objects, the object Obj [1] having no overlapping portion is registered in the new object management table TB [2] (step S310). The process proceeds to step S308.
If the result of determination in step S306 is that the object C does not exist (see FIG. 6), the control means 14 selects all the objects Obj [1] to Obj [N] in the object management table TB [1]. The process proceeds to the new object management table TB [2].

  As a result of the above processing, the table storage unit 14-7 can store an object management table including a plurality of objects obtained by dividing the overlapping portion and the non-overlapping portion of each object input to the image forming apparatus 10.

Next, the object information of the overlapping part generated by the object segmenting unit 14-5 and the color synthesizing unit 14-6 according to the type of each object will be described in more detail.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram regarding the overlapping process of the vector object A and the vector object B in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 7, the BBox of the object C that is an overlapped portion is obtained from the BBox (boundary box) of the objects A and B, and this is used as the clip information of the object C. The stroke information of the objects A and B is the stroke information of the object C. To do. Further, the color information of the object C is obtained by the color composition processing by the color composition unit 14-6.
Therefore, an object specified based on the obtained clip information, stroke information, and color information is registered as a new vector object C in the new object management table.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram regarding the overlapping process of the vector object D and the image object E in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 8, the B Box of the object F that is an overlapping part is obtained from the B Boxes of the objects D and E, and this is used as the clip information of the object F. Further, the image information of the object F is obtained by the color composition processing by the color composition unit 14-6.
Therefore, the object specified by the obtained clip information and image information is registered as a new object F in the new object management table.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment, after various objects are registered in the object management table of the table storage unit 14-7, the PDL conversion unit 14- 8a is converted into various PDL data, and the RIP processing unit 14-8b rasterizes (develops) it into an output image composed of a bitmap (raster image), so that the printing mechanism unit is controlled based on the control of the engine control unit 14-9. 16 executes a printing process.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, whether the overlap determination unit 14-4 has an overlap portion in the drawing range of two or more objects analyzed by the data analysis unit 14-3. In order to determine whether or not there is an overlapping part, the object separation unit 14-5 can separate the overlapping part and a non-overlapping part obtained by subtracting the overlapping part from the analyzed object. .
Therefore, the color composition unit 14-6 can generate a color composition object that is color-combined only for the range cut as an overlapping portion, and the image generation unit 14-8 can generate a non-overlapping portion object and a color composition object. Based on the above, an output image can be generated.

  That is, according to the present invention, since the object to be subjected to the color composition processing is limited to the overlapping portion of the object, it is not necessary to convert all the image data into dot image data as in the conventional case. The size can be minimized, the free space of the memory in the apparatus can be secured, and high-speed printing processing can be realized. In addition, since the color synthesizing process is performed on the overlapping portion of the object, a precise output result can be obtained.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This figure is a block diagram of the control means in the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a composite object creation unit (composite object creation means) 14-10 is provided as a new configuration in the control means 14. In other words, in the second embodiment, the composite object creation unit 14-10 determines whether or not the text object is included in the object in the overlapped portion that is carved by the object carving unit 14-5. In some cases, a composite object that holds a plurality of pieces of object information is created based on the objects in the overlapping portion.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, unlike the object registered as the color composition object, the composite object created by the composite object creation unit 14-10 is registered in the object management table of the table storage unit 14-7. Is done. Therefore, the image generation unit 14-8 generates an output image based on the composite object.

Next, in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, the separation processing operation between the overlapping portion and the non-overlapping portion of the drawing range of each object will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
The separation process of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is different from the separation process of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment in that steps S104, S113, and S114 are provided. Since other steps are the same as those described in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

When the overlapping part B is separated by the process of step S103 common to step S303 of the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not a text object is included in two or more objects in the separated overlapping part B ( Step S104).
If the result of determination in step S104 is that a text object is not included, processing similar to that in the first embodiment is performed in order to execute processing from step S105.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S104 is that a text object is included, the composite object creation unit 14-10 classifies two or more objects in the overlapped part into predetermined objects, and a plurality of these classified plurality of objects. A composite object B ′ holding the object is created (step S113).
Next, the control unit 14 registers the composite object B ′ created in step S113 and the non-overlapping part object D in the new object management table TB [2] in the table storage unit 14-7 (step S114). .
And the process after step S107 common to step S306 of said 1st embodiment is performed.

  As a result of the above processing, the table storage unit 14-7 can store an object management table including a plurality of objects obtained by dividing the overlapping portion and the non-overlapping portion of each object input to the image forming apparatus 10.

Next, according to the type of the object including the text object, the object information (composite object) of the overlapping portion generated by the object segmentation unit 14-5, the color synthesis unit 14-6, and the composite object creation unit 14-10. This will be described in more detail.
FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram related to the overlapping process of the vector object G and the text object H in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
In FIG. 11, the BBox of the object I that is the overlapping portion is obtained from the BBoxes of the objects G and H, and this is used as the clip information of the object I. In addition, the color synthesis unit 14-6 generates a vector object I-1 having background color information in the B box of the object I, and performs a color synthesis process on the portion to which the text character A in the B box of the object I is applied. A vector object I-2 is generated in which the character path of the text character A (information for drawing the outline of the character) is clip information. These vector objects I-1 and I-2 are registered in the composite object I that can hold them.
That is, this composite object is an object generated when an overlap with a text object occurs between the objects, and can include a vector object, an image object, and a text object as object information (FIG. 2 (D )reference).

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram related to the overlapping processing of the image object J and the text object K in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
In FIG. 12, the BBox of the object L that is an overlapping portion is obtained from the BBoxes of the objects J and K, and this is used as the clip information of the object L.
In addition, the color composition unit 14-6 generates an image object L-1 having background color information in the B box of the object L, and a portion to which the text character A in the B Box of the object L is subjected to image synthesis processing by the color composition processing. And the image object L-2 having the charpath of the text character A as clip information is generated. These image objects L-1 and L-2 are registered in the composite object L that can hold them.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram related to the overlapping process of the text object M and the text object N in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
In FIG. 13, the BBox of the object O that is the overlapping portion is obtained from the BBoxes of the objects M and N, and this is used as the clip information of the object O.
A text object A that is drawn first in the BBox of the object O is a text object O-1, a color object that has color information of the text character B that is drawn next, and a character path of the text character B is clip information. 2 and further, the color information of the part where the text characters A and B overlap in the BBox of the object O is obtained by color synthesis, and the text object O-3 of the text character A is generated using the charpath of the text character B as the program information. To do. Then, these text objects O-1, O-3 and vector object O-2 are registered in the composite object O that can hold them.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, even when the text object is included in the object cut as the overlapping part by the object cutting part 14-5, the composite object creation part 14-10 can hold the object information in the overlapping portion of each object in the input image data by the composite object, so that when printing based on the object including transparency, it is not converted into an image image. The object information can be used as it is. For this reason, high-speed printing processing can be realized and a precise output result can be obtained.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. However, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that implementation is possible.

The image forming apparatus according to the first and second embodiments can be executed by an image forming apparatus controlled by a control program. The control program for the image forming apparatus is provided by a recording medium, for example. As the recording medium, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or any other means that can be read by an image forming apparatus can be used.
Also, the control program for the image forming apparatus recorded on the recording medium can be directly loaded into the image forming apparatus and read into the image forming apparatus, and can also be read into the image forming apparatus via a communication line. You may make it.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a multifunction machine or a network printer that performs a printing process based on image data including transparency.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is information contents of various objects that can be analyzed by the data analysis unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating a comparison between a new object and an object management table in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating object separation in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 illustrates each object drawing range when an object C does not exist in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram related to an overlapping process between a vector object A and a vector object B in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram related to an overlapping process of a vector object D and an image object E in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the control means in the image forming apparatus of 2nd embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram regarding the overlapping process of the vector object G and the text object H in the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram regarding the overlapping process of the image object J and the text object K in the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram regarding the overlapping process of the text object M and the text object N in the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram regarding the overlapping process of the several object in the conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Image reading means 12 Input means 13 Display means 14 Control means 14-1 Input control part 14-2 Display control part 14-3 Data analysis part (analysis means)
14-4 Overlap determination unit (overlap determination means)
14-4a Non-overlapping re-determining unit (non-overlapping determining means)
14-5 Object separation unit (division means)
14-6 Color composition unit (color composition means)
14-7 Table storage section (table storage means)
14-8 Image generation unit (image generation means)
14-8a PDL generation unit 14-8b RIP processing unit 14-9 engine control unit 14-10 composite object creation unit 15 HDD
16 Printing mechanism

Claims (8)

An analysis means for analyzing various objects drawn based on image data including a transparent component;
Overlap determination means for determining whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range of the two or more analyzed objects;
When it is determined by the overlap determining means that there is an overlapping portion, a separating means that separates the overlapping portion and a non-overlapping portion obtained by subtracting the overlapping portion;
A color synthesis unit that generates a color synthesis object by color-synthesizing the objects in the overlapping portion separated by the separation unit;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image generation unit configured to generate an output image based on the non-overlapping portion object cut by the cutting unit and the color synthesis object generated by the color synthesis unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
A table storage means for storing an object management table in which the non-overlapping portion objects carved by the carving means and the color composition object generated by the color composition means are registered;
When a new object is analyzed by the analyzing means,
The overlap determining means determines whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range of the new object and the object stored in the table storage means;
The table storage means stores, as a new object management table, an object management table in which the non-overlapping portion objects carved according to the analysis of the new object and the color composition object generated by the color composition means are registered. ,
The image forming apparatus generates the output image based on the new object management table. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
When the non-overlapping part in the new object exists, the overlap determining means sets the non-overlapping part as a new new object, and the new new object and the new object management table have not yet been determined to overlap. An image forming apparatus that determines whether or not there is an overlapping portion in a drawing range with an object. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
Non-overlapping judgment means for judging whether or not the non-overlapping part in the new object analyzed by the analyzing means exists in the non-overlapping part carved by the carving means,
The table storage means, when the non-overlapping judgment means judges that the non-overlapping part does not exist, an object in the object management table that has not yet been judged to overlap with the new object. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is moved to a table. In the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A composite object creating means for creating a composite object for creating and holding a plurality of object information based on the object in the overlapping portion carved by the carving means,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the image generation unit generates the output image based on the composite object. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite object creating unit creates the composite object when a text object is included in the object in the overlapping portion separated by the separating unit. In the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
PDL conversion means for converting into an arbitrary PDL having no concept of transparency based on the object stored in the table storage means,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the image processing unit generates an output image based on the converted arbitrary PDL. An analysis step for analyzing various objects drawn based on image data including a transparent component;
An overlap determination step for determining whether or not there is an overlapping portion in the drawing range of the two or more analyzed objects;
When it is determined that there is an overlapping part in the overlapping determination step, a separation step of separating the overlapping part and a non-overlapping part obtained by subtracting the overlapping part;
A color synthesizing step for generating a color synthesized object by color synthesizing the object in the overlapping portion carved in the carving step;
An image forming apparatus is configured to cause the image forming apparatus to execute an image generation step of generating an output image based on the object of the non-overlapping portion cut by the cutting step and the color composition object generated by the color composition step. A control program for an image forming apparatus.