JP2006069017A - Album, printing device and method for preparation of album - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To constitute a technique for enabling re-preparation of an album almost the same as the one once prepared. <P>SOLUTION: Image data are printed on paper sheets that form a front cover 41, pages 42 and a back cover 43 and the album is prepared by binding these paper sheets. On the occasion of preparing the album, the image data are produced by processing source data with processing data and the image data are printed on the paper sheets on the basis of control data in a printing device. The last page 42 of this album is provided with an envelope-like holding body 45 and album preparation data comprising the source data, the processing data and the control data are stored in the holding body 45. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an album produced by printing image data on a print medium forming a cover and a print medium constituting each page, and binding these print media, an album printing apparatus, and an album It relates to a manufacturing method.

  As technologies related to the above-described album, album printing apparatus, and album producing method, there are those described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2. That is, in Patent Document 1, image information (corresponding to the image data of the present invention) is acquired by a film scanner, information on the print size and the layout of the image information is set on a general-purpose computer, and an ink jet type or sublimation type print mechanism. The processing mode is set so that image information is printed on a paper (print medium of the present invention) stored in a designated cassette, and a plurality of holes are formed by a punching portion of the printing mechanism and then sent out. . After image information is printed in this way, an album can be produced by setting a binder in the hole.

  In Patent Document 2, a digital photo is edited to form a file described in the HTML language, printed on a printer paper (print medium of the present invention) by a printer, and further bound to produce a commemorative album and edited. It is described that a hyperlink is added to a file and copied to a recording medium such as a CD-R, and this recording medium is attached to a commemorative album. After producing the recording medium in this way, the stored album can be viewed on the Internet homepage by sending the saved file to the contract provider's Web server and registering it on the homepage.

JP 2002-49106 A (paragraph numbers [0016] to [0025], FIGS. 1 to 5) JP 2002-31757 A (paragraph numbers [0011] to [0026], FIGS. 1 and 2)

  In the case of creating an album by printing image data on paper as in Patent Document 1, for example, an album can be easily created from image data taken with a digital still camera. This kind of technology is also a technology that needs to be developed because it is possible to produce albums more easily than those using conventional printing technology.

  When creating a commemorative album as in Patent Document 2, the file used to print the commemorative album is saved in a data format that can be disclosed on the Internet homepage. Can also be viewed.

  Considering the creation of graduation photos, weddings, parties and other albums using the technology of Patent Document 1, this type of album is used to confirm graduates, to check who attended the wedding, or They are opened as needed to evoke old memories and are intended to be preserved for a long time. However, this kind of album is very infrequent and is often lost or damaged. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technique for producing the same album again when the album is lost or damaged.

  In addition, since a plurality of albums of this type are often produced, for example, as shown in Patent Document 2, in the case where a digital photo used for a commemorative album is saved as a file, even if the album is lost, the album If there is a person who keeps the album, it seems possible to extract the file or digital photograph stored in the storage medium attached to the album and print it again to produce the album again.

  However, when creating an album again, for example, even if only the image data is printed on each page, not only the data indicating the type of print medium of each page and the data indicating the size, but also this image. For example, when data is printed on paper, layout data or the like is required. For example, in the case where an illustration or the like is arranged using a template on each page, image data of the template is also required. With the technology shown in, it was difficult to make the album again.

  An object of the present invention is to rationally construct a technique capable of recreating an album that has been produced once and an album that is almost unchanged.

A feature of the present invention is that in an album produced by printing image data on a print medium that forms a cover and a print medium that constitutes each page, and binding the print medium.
The image data to be printed on the cover and each page is generated by processing based on the processing data of the source image,
The cover and each page are formed by performing a printing process for printing the image data on the print medium based on control data in a printing apparatus,
Forming a storage medium holding portion on either the cover or each page,
The source image, the processed data, and the control data are stored in a storage medium as album production data, and the storage medium is held in the holding unit.

  With this configuration, when creating an album, image data to be printed on the cover and each page of the album is generated by processing the source image based on the processed data, and this image data is printed based on the control data. A process of printing on a print medium is performed by the apparatus, and after this printing, an operation of binding the cover and each page is performed. In addition, when an album is produced, the album production data including the source image, the processed data, and the control data is stored in a recording medium and held in a holding unit formed on either the cover or each page. For example, if a plurality of albums are created and even one of them is present, the same processing as when the album was first created based on the album creation data stored in the storage medium held in the album Makes it possible to create an album again. As a result, an album that has been created once and an album that is almost unchanged can be created again from the data stored in the storage medium. In particular, since the source image is stored, for example, even when the album size is increased, image degradation can be suppressed, and only image data based on the source image can be printed.

In the present invention, the image data printed on each page is composed of the source image that is a digital image of a captured image, and a template image that is combined with the source image, and the processed data is Including display form data for setting the size and display position of the source image on the template image,
The control data may include size data of the print medium and layout data for setting a print position of the image data with respect to the print medium.

  With this configuration, even when an album is created again, it is possible to generate image data created by synthesizing a source image consisting of a photographed image and template data based on the processed data, thereby reducing the size of the print medium. The position at which the image data is printed on the print medium can be accurately reproduced by the control data, and an album that is the same as the original one can be produced.

  In the present invention, the image data printed on the cover is composed of a source image for the cover and character image data combined with the source image, and the processed data corresponds to the character image. It may be composed of character code data, font data for setting the font of the character image, and locate data for setting the arrangement of the character image.

  With this configuration, even when an album is created again, a character image can be generated and accurately reproduced with respect to the cover source image, and an album that is the same as that created first can be created.

  According to the present invention, the image data includes area image data indicating the position of the storage unit, and the image data is printed on each page, whereby the storage is performed on one of the plurality of pages. An area indicating the position of the part may be printed, and an envelope-like storage body for storing the storage medium may be attached to this area.

  With this configuration, when an album is created for the first time, an area image indicating the position of the storage unit is printed on one of the pages based on the area image data indicating the position of the storage unit. On the other hand, since an envelope-like storage body is attached, the storage medium can be held by this storage body.

  In the present invention, as the cover, a print medium that is thicker than that used for each page is used, and each page is folded with a print medium on which the image data is printed, with the print surface facing outward. You may connect with the said cover at the edge part on the opposite side to a folding line.

  With this configuration, an album having pages with image data printed on both sides can be produced using a thick cover.

The present invention provides a printing apparatus that prints image data on a print medium that forms a cover of an album and a print medium that forms each page of the album.
Editing processing means for generating the image data to be printed on the cover and each page by processing the cover image and the source image corresponding to each page based on the processing data;
A print control unit configured to supply the print medium having a set size to a print head based on the control data, and to cause the print head to print the image data on the print medium;
A medium drive for storing data in the storage medium;
When the processing for storing the album data is selected, area image data indicating the holding position of the storage medium is added to the print medium constituting the cover or the print medium constituting each page. Storage processing for performing printing, transferring the source image of the cover and each page, the processed data, and the control data to the medium drive, and storing these data as album production data in a storage medium It is in the point with the means.

  With this configuration, when an album is produced, image data is generated by processing the source image based on the processed data in the editing processing means, and this image data is supplied to the print head and the album is controlled by the print control means. By printing on the print medium corresponding to the front cover and each page, printing can be performed on the print medium, and after this printing, the operation of binding the front cover and each page is performed. Further, when the album is produced in this way, the storage processing means stores the album production data composed of the source image, the processed data, and the control data on the storage medium set in the medium drive, and further Since the area image data indicating the holding position of the storage medium is printed on the print medium constituting the cover or the print medium constituting each page, the storage medium can be held at the portion of the area image data printed in this way. As a result, the album created once can be created again from the album creation data stored in the storage medium. In particular, since the source image is stored, for example, even when the album size is increased, image degradation can be suppressed, and image data based on the source image can be printed.

  The present invention includes a plurality of magazines that supply a roll-shaped print medium to the print head, a cutter that cuts the print medium from these magazines, and selects the plurality of magazines in the album print mode. By doing so, there may be provided album producing means that uses print media having different properties for the cover and each page, cuts the print media into a size set by a cutter, and supplies the cut print media to the print head.

  With this configuration, for example, a thick print medium can be supplied from a magazine and used as a cover, and a thin print medium can be supplied from a magazine and used for each page. It is possible to produce an album of a required size without preparing a print medium of the size.

The present invention is an album creating method for printing image data on a print medium constituting an album cover and a print medium constituting each page of the album,
Edit processing to generate the image data to be printed on the cover and each page by processing the cover image and the source image corresponding to each page based on the processing data,
Based on the control data, the print medium having a set size is supplied to the print head, and the print data is printed on the print medium by the print head.
When the processing for storing the album data is selected, area image data indicating the holding position of the storage medium is added to the print medium constituting the cover or the print medium constituting each page. In addition to printing, a storage process is performed in which the source image of the cover and each page, the processed data, and the control data are stored in a storage medium as album production data.

  With this configuration, when creating an album, image data to be printed on the cover and each page of the album is generated by performing an editing process that processes the source image based on the processed data, and the print medium is used as a print head. Then, a print process for printing the image data on the print medium by the print head is performed, and after this printing, a cover and each page are bound. Further, when the album is produced in this way, the print processing is performed on the storage medium based on the source image, the processed data, and the control data by the storage process, and the print medium or each of the covers is configured. Since the area image data indicating the holding position of the storage medium is printed with respect to the print medium constituting the page, the storage medium can be held at the portion of the area image data printed in this way. As a result, the album created once can be created again from the album creation data stored in the storage medium. In particular, since the source image is stored, for example, even when the size of the album is increased, image deterioration can be suppressed, and only image data based on the source image can be printed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Overall Configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, an operating unit that converts a captured image of a developed photographic film F into a digital signal, processes the converted digital image data, and performs basic control of the entire system. A digital printing apparatus including a printing unit B that is provided with A and performs exposure processing and development processing on a silver salt photographic paper (hereinafter referred to as paper P) as a print medium, and sends out after drying processing. A photo printing apparatus called a minilab is configured. As shown in the figure, the photo printing apparatus includes an album production unit C with respect to the print unit B. The album production unit C is configured to produce the album of the present invention by performing a so-called bookbinding process.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the album of the present invention has a structure in which a paper P as a cover 41, a paper P as each page 42, and a paper P as a back cover 43 are overlapped and bound by a rivet 44 at one end. The image data is printed on the front cover 41, each of the plurality of pages 42, and the back cover 43, and an envelope-like storage body 45 as a holding portion is pasted on the last page 42. On the other hand, a disc-type storage medium MD composed of a CD-R storing album production data is accommodated.

  This album is not limited to weddings and graduation ceremonies, but is represented by parties and memorial albums. Basically, it is assumed that multiple albums are produced. Then, even if any of the albums in which a plurality of volumes are produced is lost or damaged, the storage medium MD can be created again with the same contents and the same structure from the remaining storage medium MD. The album production data is stored.

  [Operating Unit] The operating unit A includes a film scanner 2 that captures a photographed image of the film F into a desk-like console unit 1 as a digital signal by photoelectric conversion, a display 3 that displays various information, image processing, A processing device 4 composed of a general-purpose computer that implements various processes is arranged, and includes a keyboard 5 for inputting information on the upper surface of the console unit 1 and a mouse 6 that functions as a pointing device. 1 includes a disk processing apparatus 10 that stores information in a disk-shaped storage medium MD such as a CD-R or a DVD-R. The processing device 4 includes a disk drive 7 that acquires information from a disk type storage medium MD such as a CD or a DVD, and a semiconductor drive 8 that acquires information from a semiconductor type storage medium MS. The apparatus is provided with a semiconductor memory (RAM / ROM), a hard disk, etc. (not shown).

  The film scanner 2 has a light source section having a light emitting diode, a halogen lamp, etc. in the lower part, a zoom lens in the middle part, and images taken from the zoom lens in the upper part as R (red) and G (green). , B (blue) A line CCD type photoelectric conversion unit that separates and captures the three primary colors is arranged. In this film scanner 2, when scanning the film F, the film carrier 2A suitable for the size of the film F is mounted on the upper surface of the light source unit and scanning is started, whereby the film F is moved in the sub-scanning direction ( In synchronism with the operation of conveying in the longitudinal direction), the photoelectric conversion unit performs processing for capturing the captured image of the film F as a digital signal along the main scanning direction, and the captured image captured in this manner is stored in the processing device. 4 and stored in the semiconductor memory or hard disk.

  The processing device 4 includes an interface that implements various processes by operating the keyboard 5 and the mouse 6 according to information displayed on the display 3, and further, a captured image (hereinafter referred to as a captured image) captured by the film scanner 2 as described above. , Or source data), or a captured image (hereinafter referred to as source data) from the storage medium MD or MS captured via the disk drive 7 or the semiconductor drive 8 is stored in the semiconductor memory or hard disk. Software that performs the necessary processing is installed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the disk processing apparatus 10 includes a printing unit 10P disposed at the top of the main body 10A, a writing unit 10W (an example of a medium drive) disposed at an intermediate portion of the main body 10A, a CD-R, And a picker 11 for feeding and discharging a disk-type storage medium M such as a DVD-R.

  The print unit 10P includes a tray 12 that can be moved back and forth, and an ink jet print head (not shown) that prints information on the surface (label surface) of the storage medium MD placed on the tray 12. Yes. The writing unit 10W includes a tray 13 that can be moved back and forth, and a writing head (not shown) that writes information to the storage medium MD placed on the tray 13, and the integration unit The unit 10 </ b> C includes an unprocessed disk stocker 14 and a processed disk stocker 15. The picker 11 is configured to be switchable between a state in which the storage medium M is sandwiched and a state in which the sandwiching is released, and is capable of moving up and down along the guide body 16 in the vertical position and around the axis in the vertical position. The tip portion of the picker 11 can be swung.

  The disc processing apparatus 10 is used for processing for storing album production data in a storage medium MD when producing an album. That is, the unprocessed storage medium MD set in the unprocessed disk stocker 14 of the integrated unit 10C is sandwiched by the picker 11 and supplied to the tray 12 of the print unit 10P, whereby the surface (label surface) of the storage medium MD. The print head prints information for identifying the album, and thereafter, the printed storage medium MD is sandwiched by the picker 11 and supplied to the tray 13 of the writing unit 10W to store (write) the album production data. The storage medium MD, which has been printed and stored, is sandwiched again by the picker 11, and the picker 11 is swung around the axial core in the vertical orientation to move downward from above the processed disk stocker 15 of the integrated unit 10C. The storage medium MD is configured to be stacked in a form fed to the storage medium.

  [Print Unit] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the print unit B includes an exposure block Ex, a development block De, and a drying block Dr housed in a housing 20. The paper P sent out from the opening 21 at the top of the drying block Dr is transported horizontally by the transport belt 22 and fed into the album production unit C.

  In the exposure block Ex, two magazines M and M are arranged at the lower part, and an exposure engine 25 (an example of a print head) is arranged at the upper part. In this exposure block Ex, the roll-shaped paper P stored in one of the magazines M and M is pulled out by the pressure-advanced advance roller 26 and cut into a print size by the cutter 27. Necessary information is printed on the back side by the print head 28, and thereafter, it is sent to the exposure path by a chuck unit 29 for nipping and conveying the paper P.

  In the exposure path, the paper P from the chuck unit 29 is received by the receiving roller 30, and the paper P is moved upward (in the sub-scanning direction) by the pair of driving rollers 31 and the pair of driven rollers 32 corresponding thereto. The exposure is performed in the main scanning direction with the laser beam from the exposure engine 25 at the exposure position while being conveyed. The paper P that has been exposed is converted into a horizontal distribution path in a front conveyance path having a plurality of pressure rollers 33, and then converted into two rows of distribution paths in a distribution path having two chuckers 34. Further, it is configured so that it is delivered from the rear conveying path provided with a plurality of pressure rollers 35 to the pressure-introducing introduction roller 36 of the developing block De.

  The exposure engine 25 adjusts the amount of light from the laser light sources of the three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by an acousto-optic modulation means, and then rotates a polygon mirror that rotates about the vertical axis. The laser scanning type is used to send to the paper P at the exposure position in the form of scanning in the main scanning direction by reflecting on the mirror surface, but the PLZT method, fluorescent beam method, liquid crystal shutter method, DMD method Alternatively, FOCRT or the like can be used.

  The development block De includes a development processing tank 37 in which a plurality of processing tanks including a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a stabilization tank are integrally formed, and a transport mechanism 38 that supplies paper P to each of the development processing tanks. I have. The drying block Dr includes a blower 39 that supplies air heated by a heater to the paper P delivered from the developing block De. The paper P after being dried in the drying block Dr is sent out from the opening 21 onto the transport belt 22 with the print surface facing upward.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the album produced by the album production unit C has a structure in which a cover 41, each page 42 (a plurality of pages 42), and a back cover 43 are bound with one end at a rivet 44. belongs to. On the cover 41, image data such as letters and illustrations indicating the album are printed. In each page 42, binding white space is formed as margins at both left and right ends, and image data is printed in a form of being distributed to the left and right. Note that each page 42 is folded (so-called mountain fold) so that the image is exposed to the outside. On the back cover 43, an image such as a store name and a telephone number of a DP store that has performed printing is printed. This album production unit C is bound by rivets 44, but may be an album produced by binding with a stapler or by gluing.

  As will be described later, when the processing for storing the album production data necessary for producing the album on the CD-R is selected, the envelope-like storage body 45 for storing the CD-R is pasted on the last page 42. A region image 42A indicating a storage region to be pasted with a double-sided tape or the like is printed. Thus, the storage unit 45 is formed by the storage body 45 attached to the area image 42A indicating the storage area.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the album production unit C includes a housing 50 and performs necessary processing on the paper P fed from the transport belt 22 inside the housing 50. A processing unit 51 for transporting, a stacking unit 52 having a table 52T in an inclined posture so as to temporarily store the paper P from the processing transporting unit 51 in a stacked state, and rivets the paper P stacked in the stacking unit And a binding processing unit 53 that performs processing of binding at 44. Although not shown in the drawing, the stacking unit 52 includes a pusher that sends out the paper P (album) after the binding process to the side.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the album production unit C, when the paper P to be the cover 41 is discharged from the conveyance belt 22, the processing conveyance unit 51 reverses the front and back, and the print surface is changed. When the paper P to be the page 42 is discharged as shown in FIG. 5B, the processing and transporting unit 51 is placed in the center. After being bent at the position, it is placed on the table 52T in a state of being superimposed on the previously placed paper P, and this process is repeated for the number of pages 42. Next, as shown in FIG. When the paper P serving as the back cover 43 is discharged, the paper P is placed in a state of being overlapped with the paper P previously placed without being inverted, and finally, as shown in FIG. Stacked paper as shown Wherein performing stapling processing with the rivet 44 while pressing the pressing plate 53A of the binding process unit 53 after the process of aligning the end.

  Further, the album production unit C includes an actuator (not shown) for operating the processing conveyance unit 51 and the binding processing unit 53, and when an error such as a paper jam occurs during the processing, the error A sensor (not shown) for detecting the error is provided. When an error is detected by this sensor, error information is transmitted to the processing device 4.

  The photographic printing apparatus is not fundamentally different from the conventional one, and the photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention is necessary for the paper P in addition to the process of printing the image data generated from the source data on the paper P. The data can be output in a form that can be printed to create an album.

  [Configuration of Control System] As shown in FIG. 4, the processing unit 4 is connected to the input / output interface 61 for accessing signals to the microprocessor CPU from the film scanner 2, the display 3, the keyboard 5, and the mouse 6. A system for inputting signals, a system for accessing signals to the disk drive 7, the semiconductor drive 8, the disk processing apparatus 10, and the hard disk 62, and the print unit B and the album production unit C via the communication unit 63. A system to which signals are accessed is formed. Further, a semiconductor memory RAM / ROM, an operating system 64, a print execution means 65, and an album creation means 66 are connected to the data bus of the microprocessor CPU. Incidentally, in order to realize the control in the processing device 4, a control bus and an address bus are required in addition to the data bus. However, in order to avoid complication, the drawing shows a control bus and an address bus. Does not show interfaces.

  The operating system 64 displays necessary information on the display 3, and based on the information displayed on the display 3, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) type using various software installed in the processing device 4. The process is realized.

  The printing means 65 is made of software, and lists the source data (digitally captured images) acquired by the film scanner 2, the disk drive 7, and the semiconductor drive 8 and displays them on the display 3 to determine whether printing is possible. , The print size, and the number of prints are realized, and the setting information and the source data are transferred to the print unit B to realize the print processing.

  The album creating means 66 is composed of software including an image setting section, a processing section, a control processing section, and a data storage section (functioning as a storage processing section), and accommodates two magazines M and M in one of them. The image data is printed on the paper P to produce a cover 41, and the image data is printed on the paper P accommodated in the other of the two magazines M and M to produce each page 42. The basic processing mode is set so that the image data is printed on the paper P and the back cover 43 is produced in this order, and the album production unit is controlled in conjunction with this.

  In the present invention, each of the print execution means 65 and the album creation means 66 can be constituted by hardware such as logic or a combination with hardware.

[Album Production Processing] In the present invention, image data such as a character image or an illustration image indicating an album is printed on the cover 41, and each page 42 is formed with a binding white space at both left and right ends as margins, and left and right. Image data is printed in a distributed form, and decorative image data is printed on the back cover 43.

  An outline of print processing by the album creating means 66 can be shown as a flowchart in FIG. That is, in the operation unit A, the album print channel is selected by the channel selection unit 71 from the setting screen 70 shown in FIG. 8, the paper width is set by the paper width setting unit 72, and the paper type of the cover 41 and each page 42 is set. When set in the paper type setting unit 73, and further, the number of prints (album number) is set in the album number setting unit 74, and the check unit 75 for storing data in the CD-R (an example of a storage medium) is checked. In this case, a numerical value indicating the number of CD-Rs stored in the CD-R is input to the sheet number setting unit 76, and when an area image indicating a storage area is printed, the check unit 77 is checked (# 101). , # 102 step). In the setting screen 70, when the paper type of the cover 41 is set, the paper type is set to the back cover 43. This paper type is usually thicker than the paper P used for each page 42.

  After inputting the data necessary for producing the album in this way, source data (captured image) is acquired from the film scanner 2, the disk drive 7, and the semiconductor drive 8 (step # 103). When acquiring source data in this way, the source data acquired by the film scanner 2 has a data structure in which R, G, and B are each 16 bits (source based on a photographed image of a general digital camera). Data is a data structure in which R, G, and B are each 8 bits).

  Next, on the print image setting screen 80 shown in FIG. 9, templates used for the cover 41, the back cover 43, and each page 42 are selected from the list of templates for album creation, and the cover 41 and the back cover are selected as these templates. 43. The image of each page 42 is confirmed on the display 3, and a specific operation form is not shown. However, if necessary, editing such as inputting characters and changing the layout of source data is executed (step # 104). ).

  Specifically, as shown in the print image setting screen 80 shown in FIG. 9, the image setting unit of the album creating means 66 displays the print image setting screen 80 on the display 3, and the image is displayed on this screen. The template selected by the list selection unit 81 is displayed on the confirmation screen 82, and the template selection is completed by operating the OK button 83.

  After the template is selected by the above-described operation, the image data for printing the template T1 of the front cover 41, the template T3 of the back cover 43, and the template T2 of each page 42 are displayed on the image screen 84. Further, when the process of storing the album creation data in the storage medium MD (CD-R) is selected, as shown in FIG. 6, the template T2 of the page 42 corresponding to the last page 42 of the album is selected. Then, an image for printing the area image 42A is added. When the number of storage media MD (CD-R) for storing album production data is smaller than the number of albums to be produced, the number of albums corresponding to the number of storage media MD (CD-R) A region image 42A is printed.

  Since the image data printed on each page 42 is generated by the process of fitting the source data into the synthesis region S of the selected template T2, the previous page button 85 or the next page button 86 is displayed on the print image setting screen 80. By switching the page by the above operation, it is possible to confirm the image in which the source data is inserted in the synthesis area S of the template T2, and when editing, operate the edit button 87 with the image data to be edited selected. Thus, the editing screen 90 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed and necessary editing can be performed, and by operating the OK print execution button 88, the print image is developed on the memory, and the print image on the memory is exposed. The print processing is started in the form of transfer to the engine 25 (steps # 105 and 106). ).

  The editing screen 90 realizes a processing process and an editing process by a processing unit (also functioning as an editing processing unit) in the album creating unit 66. In this editing screen 90, a print image display area 91 is formed, and a cover image / back cover button 92, a page button 93, and a page switching button 94 are formed, so that the print image displayed in the display area 91 is displayed. In addition, a correction button 95 for brightness contrast, color balance, and level correction, a trimming button 96, and a character input button 97 are formed, thereby correcting the print image and the display size of the source image. , Character input can be performed, and the previous setting can be canceled by operating the return button 98, and the setting is completed by operating the OK button 99.

  The image data printed on the front cover 41 and the back cover 43 can use a ready-made template. However, in the editing screen 90, it is also possible to use a composite of an arbitrary image or illustration image with the image data. It is. Further, correction data when the print image is corrected by operating the correction button 95 is set to processing data described later, and the display position and display size of the source image with respect to the template image are operated by operating the trimming button 96. And display format data consisting of trimming data are set as processed data, and when a character image is synthesized by operating the character input button 97, character code data indicating a character and a font indicating a character type Data and locate data indicating the display position of the character image are set as the processing data.

  When performing print processing of a plurality of prints at the time of print processing, the control processing unit constituting the album creating means 66 prints the cover 41, each page 42 and the back cover 43 for one album. When processing for sending data to the album production unit C is performed in this order and data is stored in the storage medium MD (CD-R), the data stored in the data storage unit is stored. A process of storing data necessary for re-creating the album is performed for the set number of CD-Rs transferred to the disk processing apparatus 10 (steps # 106 to # 108).

  The data stored in the storage medium MD includes the template T1 of the cover 41, the template T2 of each page 42, the template image of the back cover template T3 (see FIG. 9), and the template T2 of each page 42. Of the paper on which the image data composed of the source image to be synthesized, the processing data composed of the display form data, the character code data, the font data, and the locate data, and the image data are printed. It consists of size data and control data consisting of layout data for setting the print position of the image data on the paper P.

  When an error such as clogging occurs in the album production unit C when the printing process in the print unit B and the album production process (binding process) in the album production unit C are performed in parallel as described above. In the case where an error has occurred on the display 3, the print processing in the print unit B and the album production unit C are stopped (steps # 107 and # 109), and no error occurs. Deletes the print image developed on the memory at the end of the processing of the required number of albums, and executes the process of deleting the source image stored in the hard disk 62 (step # 110). ).

  More specifically, when printing, the type of paper P (thick paper) set on the cover 41 by designating the magazine M is passed through the advance roller 26, the cutter 27, and the chuck unit 29, respectively. The image data corresponding to the front cover 41 is printed to the exposure engine 25, and then the type of paper P (thinner than the front cover 41 and the back cover 43) set on each page 42 by designating the magazine M is specified. Paper) is supplied to the exposure engine 25 through the advance roller 26, the cutter 27, and the chuck unit 29, and the image data of each page 42 is printed. Thereafter, the same control as that for printing the cover 41 is performed. The image data of the back cover 43 is printed.

  Thus, when the paper P corresponding to the front cover 41, each page 42, and the back cover 43 is supplied from the transport belt 22 to the album production unit C, the album production unit C becomes the front cover 41 as described above. The paper P is placed on the table 52T of the stacking unit 52 by reversing the front and back in the processing transport unit 51. Next, after the processing transport unit 51 bends the paper P to be a page 42 at the center position, Is placed on the table 52T in a state of being superimposed on the paper P placed on the paper P, and this process is repeated for the number of pages 42. Then, the paper P to be the back cover 43 is reversed by the processing conveyance unit 51. Without being stacked on the previously placed paper P, and finally, after the process of aligning the ends of the stacked paper P, the pressing pre-press of the binding processing unit 53 The paper P that is bound by the rivet 44 is pressed in the state pressed by the grip 53A, and the paper P that has been made into an album by the binding process is discharged by the operation of the pusher of the binding processing unit 53 (FIGS. 5A to 5 ( see d)).

  Further, when the process for storing data on the CD-R is selected, the CD in which the data is stored by the disk processing apparatus 10 with respect to the area image 42A indicating the storage area printed on the last page 42. The operation of attaching the envelope-shaped storage body 45 storing -R with glue or double-sided tape is artificially performed.

  As described above, the photo printing apparatus sets the storage medium MD storing the source image, the template image, the processed data, and the control data as the album production data in the disk drive 7 of the processing apparatus 4. It is also possible to create an album, and when the album creating process is selected with the storage medium MD set, the album creating means 66 uses the source image, the template image, the processed data, As with the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, by acquiring the control data, the channel is set, the source data is set, the source data set for the selected template is synthesized, and character data exists. If so, the character image is synthesized. After this processing, images corresponding to the front cover 41, each page 42, and the back cover 43 are printed on the paper P in the print unit B, and the front cover 41, the plurality of pages 42, and the back are printed in the album preparation unit C. An album can be produced by performing a so-called bookbinding process in which the paper P corresponding to the cover sheet 43 is overlapped and bound.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when creating an album, an album print is selected from the channel selection unit 71 of the setting screen 70, and the paper size, paper type, and number of prints (number of books) are set on the setting screen 70. After selecting an option to save data on the storage medium MD (CD-R, DVD-R, etc.), select a template on the print image setting screen 80 and set source data to be combined with this template (template image). Thus, the print images of the front cover 41, the back cover 43, and each page 42 can be visually confirmed, and can be edited if necessary.

  Next, when performing printing, a process of cutting the paper P corresponding to the cover and each page into a target size and supplying the paper P to the exposure engine 25 is executed. The print image is printed on the paper P corresponding to the cover 41, the paper P corresponding to each page 42, and the paper 43 corresponding to the back cover 43, and can be albumed in the album production unit C. Become. Further, when an album is produced in this way, processing for storing the album production data in a storage medium MD (CD-R, DVD-R, etc.) is automatically performed, and the produced storage medium MD Is stored on one of the pages 42 of the album, and when the album is created again from the data stored in the storage medium MD in which the album creation data is stored in this way, the setting is not performed in a special manner. You can create an album that is almost the same as your album.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the embodiment described above.

(A) In addition to the CD-R, it is possible to use a disk type such as a DVD-R, or a semiconductor type storage medium MS composed of a flash memory.

(B) As an album, an album having a structure in which the back cover 43 is not used or a structure in which the cover 41 and the back cover 43 are integrated may be used. Further, as a means for producing (binding) an album, a binder for bonding with an adhesive or performing a binding process may be used.

(C) An ink jet type or a sublimation type print head may be used as the printing apparatus.

Perspective view of photographic printing device with album production unit Longitudinal side view of print unit Perspective view of disk processing device Block circuit diagram of control system of photographic printing device The perspective view which shows the outline of the processing form of the paper in an album production unit sequentially An exploded perspective view showing the structure of the album Perspective view of the album with the page bound and the back cover open Figure showing the setting screen Figure showing the print image setting screen Figure showing the edit screen Flow chart showing album creation routine

Explanation of symbols

10 W Medium drive 25 Print head 27 Cutter 41 Cover page 42 Page 66 Album preparation means M Magazine MD Storage medium P Paper

Claims (8)

An album produced by printing image data on a print medium forming a cover and a print medium constituting each page and binding these print media,
The image data to be printed on the cover and each page is generated by processing based on the processing data of the source image,
The cover and each page are formed by performing a printing process for printing the image data on the print medium based on control data in a printing apparatus,
Forming a storage medium holding portion on either the cover or each page,
An album in which the source image, the processed data, and the control data are stored in a storage medium as album production data, and the storage medium is held in the holding unit. The image data to be printed on each page is composed of the source image composed of a photographed image converted into a digital signal and a template image combined with the source image, and the processed data is on the template image. Display mode data for setting the size and display position of the source image at
2. The album according to claim 1, wherein the control data includes size data of the print medium and layout data for setting a print position of the image data with respect to the print medium.   The image data printed on the cover is composed of a cover source image and character image data combined with the source image, and the processed data includes character code data corresponding to the character image, 3. The album according to claim 1 or 2, comprising font data for setting the font of the character image and locate data for setting the arrangement of the character image.   The image data includes area image data indicating the position of the storage unit, and by printing the image data on each page, the position of the storage unit is set on one of the plurality of pages. The album according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an area to be printed is printed, and an envelope-shaped storage body for storing the storage medium is attached to the area.   As the cover, a print medium thicker than that used for each page is used, and each page is folded with the print medium on which the image data is printed, with the print surface facing outward, opposite to this folding line. The album according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the album is connected to the cover at the end on the side. A printing apparatus for printing image data on a print medium constituting an album cover and a print medium constituting each page of the album,
Editing processing means for generating the image data printed on the cover and each page by processing the cover image and the source image corresponding to each page based on the processing data;
A print control unit configured to supply the print medium having a set size to a print head based on the control data, and to cause the print head to print the image data on the print medium;
A medium drive for storing data in the storage medium;
When processing for storing album data is selected, area image data indicating the holding position of the storage medium is added to the print medium constituting the cover or the print medium constituting each page. Storage processing for performing printing, transferring the source image of the cover and each page, the processed data, and the control data to the medium drive, and storing these data as album production data in a storage medium A printing apparatus comprising means.   The print head includes a plurality of magazines for supplying a roll-shaped print medium, and includes a cutter for cutting the print medium from the magazines. In the album print mode, the plurality of magazines are selected by selecting the plurality of magazines. 7. A printing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an album producing unit that uses a print medium having different properties for a cover and each of the pages, cuts the print medium into a size set by a cutter, and supplies the cut print medium to the print head. . An album production method for printing image data on a print medium constituting an album cover and a print medium constituting each page of the album,
Edit processing to generate the image data to be printed on the cover and each page by processing the cover image and the source image corresponding to each page based on the processing data,
Based on the control data, the print medium having a set size is supplied to the print head, and the print data is printed on the print medium by the print head.
When processing for storing album data is selected, area image data indicating the holding position of the storage medium is added to the print medium constituting the cover or the print medium constituting each page. An album production method for performing printing processing and performing storage processing for storing the source image of the cover and each page, the processed data, and the control data in a storage medium as album production data.

Images