JP2006093949A - Proofreading instruction method and image proofreading system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transmit a proper proofreading instruction including attribute information of colors for the proofreading while reducing a data amount in the case of transmitting the proofreading instruction. <P>SOLUTION: In a server 24 provided in the proofreading system, when a scanner 22 reads image data of an original 70 and image data of a proofreading original 74, a difference extract section 60 extracts difference between the image data to produce difference data. A data conversion section 62 converts the difference data into binary data, and an attribute information setting section 64 generates attribute information for each color. A data synthesis section 66 synthesize the binary data with the attribute information to produce proofreading instruction data. Thus, the proofreading instruction data including the attribute information for each color at writing and needing less data amount can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a calibration instruction method and an image calibration system when a calibration instruction is performed using a calibration original in which a calibration instruction is written by red insertion or the like.

  As digitalization in the printing field, DTP (Desktop Publishing) has become popular. DTP creates a page layout by performing image creation, processing, editing, and the like on an image processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC). When printing is performed, a film for exposing the printing plate is created based on the created page layout (CEPS), or the printing plate is directly exposed (CTP: Computer to Plate). create.

  On the other hand, when proofreading is performed prior to actual print processing, the page layout displayed on a monitor such as an image processing device is printed out by a print output device such as a page printer using the WYSIWYG function, and color proofing is performed. Create (comp output).

  In the proofreading work, a color proof is handed over from the printing company to the orderer (client) of the printed matter, and the proofreading is performed. At this time, a correction instruction is written on the color proof by red insertion or the like (red insertion), a correction original (red insertion original) in which the correction instruction is written is created, and the correction original is given to the printing company or the like. Is called.

  In recent years, remote color proofing is sometimes used with the spread of networks and the enhancement of functions and color reproducibility of general-purpose printers. In this remote color proof, image data such as page layout created by the printing company is transmitted to the orderer, and the orderer creates a color proof according to the image data by performing printing processing using a printer. To do. In other words, the image data is delivered to the orderer, so that the orderer outputs a color proof, and a corrected document is created using the output color proof.

  In remote color proofing, when an orderer sends a corrected manuscript to a printing company, a facsimile is used or the amended manuscript is read by a scanner or the like to create image data of the amended manuscript, and then the image data of the amended manuscript is obtained. Is transmitted to the printing company.

  On the other hand, when a large amount of data is transmitted through a network, it takes a long time to transmit. Also, the network may charge for the amount of data to be transmitted, etc., and when the orderer passes the corrected manuscript to the printing company, this amount of data becomes a burden on the orderer, so the amended manuscript A proposal has been made to extract only the red insertion information (red insertion image) without extracting the original original portion (original image) and extracting only the extracted red insertion information (original image) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

  On the other hand, as a method of confirming the change contents from the drawing before the change and the drawing after the change, the difference between the drawing before the change and the drawing after the change is acquired, and the attribute information of the acquired difference is changed and highlighted. (For example, refer patent document 2).

  Also in a color image, it is possible to extract a difference by simply comparing binarized data, and thereby a correction location (a red insertion location) is possible.

  From this, a method of extracting the difference by binarizing the original document and the corrected document can be considered.

  By the way, in proofreading work, there are cases where attribute information is given to the color to be used, such as instructing correction of typographical errors in red, color change in blue, replacement of text in black, etc. When is performed, it is difficult to extract the attribute only by extracting the correction part using the binarized data.

  From this, it is conceivable to read the original document and the modified document with a scanner and extract the difference including the color. However, depending on the skew at the time of installation of the scanner and the color sensitivity of the scanner, most or the front surface may be determined as a difference, which makes it difficult to accurately extract the difference.

Also, when different colors are used during proofreading work, for example, information that does not need to be returned to the document creator such as a printing company may be given an attribute to the color. It may not be desirable to transmit to the company.
JP 2003-143394 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-128437

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and is capable of performing appropriate calibration instructions including color attribute information at the time of calibration while reducing the amount of data when transmitting the calibration instructions. An object is to propose an instruction method and an image calibration system.

  In order to achieve the above object, the proofreading instruction method of the present invention sets attribute information for each writing instrument used for writing, writes a proofreading instruction on the original document based on the attribute information, creates a proofreading manuscript, and instructs the proofreading. A method for instructing calibration, wherein an image of the original document and the calibration document is read, and a difference equal to or greater than a preset threshold value is calculated from the first image data based on the original document and the second image data based on the calibration document. Extracting and generating image data obtained by binarizing the extracted difference, determining the color for each extracted difference, generating the attribute information for each difference, and adding the binary image data to the binarized image data Calibration instruction data with attribute information added is output.

  The image proofing system of the present invention also includes a storage means capable of storing first image data based on an original document and second image data based on a proofreading document in which a calibration instruction is written on the original document; Attribute information storage means for storing attribute information for each color when writing a calibration instruction, and a difference equal to or greater than a preset threshold value from the first image data and the second image data stored in the storage means An extraction means for extracting the difference, a data conversion means for generating image data obtained by binarizing the difference extracted by the extraction means, a color for each difference extracted by the extraction means, and a determination result and the attribute information storage Generating attribute information for each difference from the attribute information for each color stored in the means, and adding the generated attribute information to the image data generated by the data conversion means Te, to generating means for generating a calibration instruction data, and transmitting means for transmitting output the calibration instruction data, comprising a.

  According to the present invention, the image data of the original document and the image data of the calibration document are compared, and image data based on a calibration instruction that is a difference is generated. At this time, for example, when the difference between the density values of any of the R, G, and B colors exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the image or pixel is the difference, so only the calibration instruction is written. Can be accurately extracted.

  Further, since the difference image data is binarized and the calibration instruction data is generated including the attribute information, the calibration instruction can be accurately transmitted while suppressing the data amount.

  Such an image proofing system of the present invention can include image reading means for reading the first image data from the original document and reading the second image data from the calibration document.

  The calibration instruction method of the present invention is characterized in that, when the calibration information includes deletion of an image of a corresponding color, the calibration instruction data from which the difference is deleted is generated based on the attribute information. In the image calibration system to which the instruction method is applied, when the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit includes deletion of the difference, the generation unit generates calibration instruction data from which the corresponding difference is deleted. It is characterized by that.

  Thereby, writing unnecessary for accurate transmission of calibration instructions is not included in the calibration instruction data.

  As described above, according to the present invention, only the calibration instruction can be accurately extracted from the difference between the original document and the calibration document, and the attribute information based on the color written in the calibration instruction is binarized. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that an accurate calibration instruction can be performed while suppressing the amount of data during transmission.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a calibration system 10 applied to the present embodiment. In the calibration system 10, a plurality of network users 12 are connected to a network.

  In the calibration system 10, a network such as a local area network (LAN) may be formed for each network user 12, and the network connecting the network users 12 may be a public network (Internet). Not limited to this, a dedicated network can also be applied. At this time, a pay-as-you-go network that charges in accordance with the amount of data to be transmitted or the like can be applied.

  The network user 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as the user 12), for example, creates a document and performs a printing process based on the created document (hereinafter referred to as the user 12A when distinguished) and the printing company. An orderer who requests creation / correction and print processing (hereinafter referred to as users 12B and 12C) can be applied.

  Connected to the user 12A is at least an image processing terminal 14 capable of forming an image (document) for printing such as a page layout using various applications, and a printer 16 that performs print processing based on various image data. The print server 18 is included.

  It should be noted that the user 12A has a plate setter that directly exposes a photosensitive lithographic printing plate or the like to create a printing plate for printing based on image data created by the image processing terminal 14, or a photosensitive lithographic printing plate. An exposure device or the like for exposing a document film used for image printing (exposure) may be provided.

  The users 12B, 12C, and the like include at least a printer 20 that performs a printing process according to image data transmitted from the user 12A, and an image reading device (scanner 22) that reads an image recorded on an original and generates image data. ), And these are connected to the server 24. The users 12B and 12C may include an image processing terminal 26 that performs various types of image processing.

  It should be noted that the users 12B and 12C may be provided with a multifunction device in which the printer 20 and the scanner 22 are integrated, and the operation of the printer 20 and the scanner 22 is controlled by the image processing terminal 26 instead of the server 24. May be. In the calibration system 10, conventionally known image processing terminals such as personal computers and workstations can be used as the image processing terminals 14 and 26.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the server 24 provided in the networks 12B and 12C. The server 24 includes a CPU 28, a chipset 30, and a main memory 32, and has a general configuration in which the CPU 28 controls various processes including image processing and the operation of the server 24.

  The server 24 has a plurality of buses 34A, 34B, and 34C connected via a bridge 36. The bus 34A has a communication interface (communication I / F 40) such as an HDD 38 and a network card together with the chipset 30. Connected.

  Further, the server 24 is provided with a monitor such as a CRT or LCD as a display device 42, and a keyboard and a mouse as input devices 44. The display device 42 is connected to the bus 34A via the video card 46, and the input device 44 is connected to the bus 34B via the input device interface (input device I / F) 48. It is possible to display various information and images, and input operations such as processing instructions for the display information and images.

  The server 24 is provided with a CD-ROM drive 50 and an FD drive 52, and can read data from a CD-ROM or FD. The server 24 may include a drive capable of inputting / outputting data to / from various storage media such as a CD and a DVD.

  On the other hand, the server 24 is provided with an image processing unit 54, an image memory 56, and a peripheral device interface (peripheral device I / F 58), which are connected to the bus 34C.

  The peripheral device I / F 58 is connected to the printer 20 and the scanner 22. The server 24 outputs print data to the printer 20 and reads image data from the scanner 22 via the peripheral device I / F 58. It is possible.

  That is, in the server 24, when a print job (image data) is input from the image processing terminal 26 or the like, the image processing unit 54 performs image processing based on the print job to generate print data. Is output to the printer 20 so that the printing process corresponding to the print job is executed.

  In the server 24, when image data generated by reading an image recorded on a document by the scanner 22 is input, the image processing unit 34 performs predetermined processing on the image data and stores it in the HDD 38. Or output to the image processing terminal 26 or the like. Further, the server 24 generates print data based on the image data read by the scanner 22 and outputs the print data to the printer 20 so that the image recorded on the document can be copied.

  The server 24 can be configured by adding a conventionally known general configuration, for example, by adding a PCI board having a predetermined function to a personal computer (PC).

  On the other hand, the server 24 not only exchanges data with the image processing terminal 26 in the same user 12 but also data between the image processing terminals 14 and 26 of other users 12, the print server 18, the server 24, and the like. Exchange is possible.

  In the calibration system 10 configured as described above, when performing calibration processing on image data such as page layout created by the image processing terminal 14 of the user 12A, the image data is transferred to the printer 20 (server 24) of the user 12B to the user 12C. ) And printed out by the printer 20, it can be handed over to the user 12B or the user 12C proofreader as a proofreading document (color proof).

  In the calibration system 10, when returning a calibration document formed by writing a calibration instruction to the calibration document (original document) by red marking or the like as a calibration instruction to the user 12 A, the calibration document is used as a scanner. 22, the image data for calibration instruction is generated, and the image data for calibration instruction is transmitted to the print server 18 or the image processing terminal 14 of the user 12A.

  By the way, in the server 24 provided for the users 12B and 12C, when the original document and the proof document are read, the difference between the original document and the proof document is extracted, and the binarized data of the image corresponding to the difference is generated. .

  In the proofreading system 10, a proofreading instruction is written on an original using a writing instrument such as a pencil (colored pencil), a felt pen, or a marker. At this time, the calibration system 10 can write a calibration instruction using a writing instrument of a plurality of colors. At that time, the attribute is determined by the color of the writing instrument. For example, it is set to write in red for corrections such as typographical errors, and to write in blue for an instruction to change the color of an object or the like. In addition, contents that are not directly related to the proofreading instruction such as proofreading by the proofreader are written in black.

  When the server 24 extracts the difference between the original document and the proof document, the difference color and the extraction are also performed. That is, the writing color is extracted when the calibration instruction or the like is written on the original document.

  Further, the server 24 stores, for example, attribute information for each color used for calibration in the HDD 38. This attribute information is, for example, a text correction instruction in which red is erroneously written, blue is a color change instruction, and black is a writing not directly related to a calibration instruction. Such attribute information for each color is preferably defined for all users of the calibration system 10, but is defined for each of the users 12B and 12C provided with the server 24. Also good.

  When the server 24 extracts colors for each difference between the original document and the proofreading document, it reads the attribute information for each extracted color and synthesizes the binarized data to create calibration instruction data. Yes.

  In the server 24, the calibration instruction data is transmitted to the user 12A, for example, so that the calibration instruction for the original document is given.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the server 24 includes a data conversion unit 62, an attribute information generation unit 64, and data together with the original document image data and the difference extraction unit 60 that extracts a difference from the calibration document image data. A combining unit 66 is formed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the original document 70 is printed out on a recording paper 72 according to the image data for calibration, and the difference between the calibration document 74 and the original document 70 is the calibration instruction 76. Become. The calibration instruction 76 includes, for example, a writing 76A written in red, a writing 76B written in blue, a writing 76C written in black, and the like, which is obtained by removing these calibration instructions 76 from the calibration original 74. Of the original 70.

  3 extracts a difference from the image data of the original document 70 and the image data of the calibration document 74, and the image data corresponding to the difference, that is, the image data of only the calibration instruction 76 (color data). Image data). At this time, in the difference extraction unit 60, a threshold value of density difference is set for each of the R, G, and B colors. If the density difference is within the threshold value, the same color, that is, the same color is used for the same color. It is determined that the pixel is a pixel, and when the density difference exceeds a threshold value, it is determined that the image forms a difference image.

  Thus, the difference extraction unit 60 prevents erroneous determination that the same color image is different between the original document and the proofreading document due to changes in the skew and sensitivity characteristics of the scanner 22. Like to do. That is, the image recorded on the original document 70 is prevented from being extracted as the calibration instruction 76.

  As the threshold value, a value set by measuring the characteristics of the scanner 22 in advance can be used. However, the threshold value may be input using the input device 44 when creating the calibration instruction data.

  The data conversion unit 62 binarizes each pixel of the image data of the calibration instruction 76 extracted by the difference extraction unit 60. Thereby, image data obtained by binarizing the calibration image 76 is generated.

  Further, the HDD 38 stores attribute information for each color used for writing the calibration instruction 76, and the attribute information generation unit 64 calculates each calibration instruction 76 from the image data of the calibration instruction 76 extracted by the difference extraction unit 60. Are extracted, and attribute information is generated for each calibration instruction 76.

  The data synthesis unit 66 synthesizes attribute information for each calibration instruction 76 with the binarized image data of the calibration instruction 76 to generate calibration instruction data.

  The image data of the original document 70 when generating the calibration instruction data may be read by mounting the original document 70 on the scanner 22 and stored in the HDD 38 before the calibration work. Alternatively, it may be printed out separately from the original document 70 to which the calibration instruction is written, and read together when the image data of the calibration document 74 is read.

  On the other hand, the server 24 can delete the image data of the corresponding color from the calibration instruction data when it is written in a specific color as the attribute information for each color. At this time, the attribute information stored in the HDD 38 includes deletion of the corresponding color image.

  When the attribute information setting unit 64 sets the attribute information for each color of the calibration instruction 76, if the corresponding color image is deleted, a deletion instruction is added. When the attribute information includes a deletion instruction, the data composition unit 66 generates configuration instruction data in which the corresponding image is deleted.

  In the users 12B and 12C, the calibration instruction data created by the server 24 in this way is transmitted to the image processing terminal 14, the print server 18 and the like of the user 12A, thereby giving a calibration instruction.

  Here, the calibration process in the calibration system 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  FIG. 5 shows a flow of the calibration processing work in the calibration system 10, and the calibration system 10 requests the printing process from the user 12B, 12C side to the user 12A side. When the user 12A receives a print processing request, the image processing terminal 14 creates a document for printing.

  Thereafter, the calibration system 10 receives the calibration from the user 12B, 12C side who requested the printing process for the printing document created by the user 12A side. At this time, the image data of the original document is transmitted as a print job from the image processing terminal 14 of the user 12A to the server 24 on the user 12B side or the user 12C side (step 100).

  When the server 24 receives the print job, it executes print processing and forms an image corresponding to the image data on the recording paper 70 using the printer 20 (step 102). Thereby, the users 12B to 12C can receive the original document 70 (color proof) used for the calibration. Note that the image data of the document for printing can be transmitted to the image processing terminal 26 without being transmitted to the server 24 as a print job, and can be printed out from the image processing terminal 26.

  When the user 12B or the user 12C obtains the original 70 used for the calibration, the calibration original 74 is created by writing the calibration instruction 76 on the original 70 (step 104).

  When the proofreading process is performed, a writing instrument of a color set according to the proofreading content is used. For example, when correcting a sentence for erroneous writing, etc., write using a writing instrument of a color (for example, red) set for correcting the sentence (character), and when changing the color of the object, for correcting the color. Is performed using a writing instrument of a color set to (for example, blue).

  Further, when the proofreader makes a memo on the original 70 as necessary, a writing instrument of a color (for example, black) set for the memo is used.

  As described above, the calibration system 10 sets an attribute for each color used for calibration, and the server 24 stores attribute information for each color. In the calibration work, the color corresponding to the attribute is used. This writing instrument is used.

  In the calibration system 10, when the calibration work is completed and the calibration document 74 is created, the calibration instruction written on the calibration document 74 is transmitted from the users 12B and 12C to the user 12A. That is, calibration instruction data is created from the original document 70 and the calibration document 74 (step 106). By transmitting the created calibration instruction data to the user 12A (step 108), a calibration instruction for a document for printing is issued.

  As a result, the calibration instruction data is received on the user 12A side, and the original is corrected based on the calibration instruction of the calibration instruction data (step 110).

  FIG. 6 shows an outline of a process for creating calibration instruction data executed by the server 24 of the users 12B and 12C.

  In order to create the calibration instruction data, the original document 70 and the calibration document 74 are sequentially mounted on the scanner 22 in the first step 120, and the image data of the original document 70 and the image data of the calibration document 74 are read. A difference is extracted by comparing the read image data, and difference image data is generated.

At this time, in the difference extraction unit 60, for example, if the density difference is within a predetermined threshold from the density difference of each color for each pixel, it is determined as the same pixel, and is omitted from the difference image data. That is, for the pixels that can be determined as the same pixel between the image data of the document 70 and the image data of the calibration document 74, the pixel density of the document 70 is the density Dm, and the pixel density of the calibration document 74 is the density Dp. When the density Dd (Dd = Dm−Dp), which is the difference, does not exceed the threshold value D _th (−D _th ≦ Dd ≦ D _th ), it is determined that the pixels are the same.

  As a result, the density is slightly different on the image data even though they are the same image, so that it is determined that the images are different from each other, and only the calibration instruction 76 recorded in the calibration document 74 is reliably extracted. To be able to.

  Thereafter, in step 124, the difference image data is binarized to generate binarized data corresponding to the difference image data. This binarized data is binarized image data corresponding to the writing 76A, 76B, 76C of the calibration instruction 76, and the calibration instruction is represented as a binarized image.

  On the other hand, in step 126, the color for each calibration instruction 76 is extracted from the difference image data, and in step 128, the attribute information for each extracted color is read from the HDD 38. Thereafter, in step 130, attribute information is set for each calibration instruction that is a difference image.

  When the binarized data and the attribute information corresponding to the difference between the original document 70 and the proof document 74 are generated in this way, in step 132, it is confirmed whether or not the proofreading instruction is deleted in the attribute information.

  Here, for example, contents that do not need to be transmitted to the user 12A who is the manuscript creator are separated from other proofreading instructions and written in black on the manuscript 70 (the proof manuscript 74) (for example, writing 76C in FIG. 4). If deletion is set as color attribute information, the attribute information of the writing 76C includes deletion.

  As a result, an affirmative determination is made in step 132, the process proceeds to step 134, and the corresponding image is deleted from the binarized data.

  When binarized data formed by only necessary calibration instructions is obtained in this way, in step 136, attribute information for each calibration instruction is synthesized with the binarized data to generate calibration instruction data.

  Since the calibration instruction data generated in this way is binarized image data, the amount of data is extremely small compared to color image data. Therefore, the transmission time for transmission via the network can be shortened. Also, the transmission cost can be kept low when charged according to the amount of data to be transmitted.

  On the other hand, on the network 12A side (image processing terminal 14 or print server 18) that receives the proofreading instruction data, each proofreading instruction 76 includes attribute information even if the proofreading instruction 76 is binarized. The content of the proofreading instruction 76 can be accurately determined, whereby the original document 70 can be appropriately corrected.

  Further, since the calibration instruction data does not include writing (for example, writing 76C) that is unnecessary for transmission on the user 12B, 12C (proofreader) side, other calibration is included by including unnecessary writing. It is possible to prevent misunderstanding or the like in the contents of the instruction 76.

  When transmitting the calibration instruction data, it is preferable to perform a data compression process that is used as a conventional means for reducing the amount of data. At this time, it is more preferable to apply irreversible compression, whereby a higher data amount can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the calibration instruction data is generated by the server 24. However, the calibration instruction data can also be generated by the image processing terminal 26. At this time, the image data of the original document 70 and the calibration document 74 read by the scanner 22 may be input to the image processing terminal 26 via the server 24, and the calibration instruction data may be input to the user 12A. When transmitting to the image processing terminal 14, various methods such as transmission as an attached file of an e-mail may be applied.

  The present embodiment described above shows an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and can be applied to any configuration to which remote color proof is applicable.

It is the schematic of the network to which the calibration system applied to this Embodiment is applied. It is a schematic calibration figure which shows an example of the server applied to a calibration system. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part of a server. It is the schematic which shows an example of a proofreading original. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of a calibration process. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of generation of calibration instruction data.

Explanation of symbols

10 Calibration system 12 (12A-12C) Network user 20 Printer 22 Scanner (image reading means)
24 server 38 HDD (storage means, attribute information storage means)
54 Image processing unit 60 Difference extraction unit (extraction means)
62 Data converter (data converter)
64 Attribute Information Generation Unit 66 Data Composition Unit (Generation Unit)
70 Original document 72 Recording paper 74 Calibration document 76 Calibration instruction 76A to 76C Writing (calibration instruction)

Claims (5)

A calibration instruction method that sets attribute information for each writing instrument used for writing, writes a calibration instruction on an original document based on the attribute information, creates a calibration document, and instructs the calibration.
Performing image reading of the original document and the calibration document, and extracting a difference equal to or greater than a preset threshold value from the first image data based on the original document and the second image data based on the calibration document;
While generating the image data binarized the extracted difference,
Determining the color for each extracted difference and generating the attribute information for each difference;
A calibration instruction method for outputting calibration instruction data obtained by adding the attribute information to the binarized image data.   2. The calibration instruction method according to claim 1, wherein when the calibration information includes deletion of an image of a corresponding color, calibration instruction data from which the difference is deleted is generated based on the attribute information. Storage means capable of storing first image data based on an original document and second image data based on a calibration document in which a calibration instruction is written on the original document;
Attribute information storage means for storing attribute information for each color when writing the calibration instruction;
Extraction means for extracting a difference equal to or greater than a preset threshold value from the first image data and the second image data stored in the storage means;
Data conversion means for generating image data obtained by binarizing the difference extracted by the extraction means;
The color for each difference extracted by the extraction unit is determined, attribute information for each difference is generated from the determination result and the attribute information for each color stored in the attribute information storage unit, and the generated attribute information is the data Generating means for generating calibration instruction data in addition to the image data generated by the converting means;
Transmission means for transmitting and outputting the calibration instruction data;
An image proofing system comprising:   4. The image calibration system according to claim 3, further comprising image reading means for reading the first image data from the original document and reading the second image data from the calibration document.   4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage means includes deletion of the difference, the generation means generates calibration instruction data from which the corresponding difference is deleted. 5. The image calibration system according to 4.

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