JP2006231676A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm whether a problem on a layout face is easily derived by variable data printing. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus executes an ordinary variable data print in a first image synthesizing mode and synthesizes master data of all the variable information to prepare a sheet of an image 32, and then output them, in order to easily confirm whether there exist any problems in all the outputs outputted by the variable data print in a second image synthesizing mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that prints a document or the like, and more particularly to variable data printing that combines and outputs data common to each page and different data for each page.

  In the field of commercial printing, in the case of mass printing by an offset printing machine or the like, printing has been performed by an inexpensive printing apparatus.

On the other hand, there is a demand from the market to print different images for each sheet, such as a direct mail address, and a technique called variable data printing is used to meet this demand.
JP-A-10-208071 JP 2003-296070 A

  However, in the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, there is no means for confirming in advance an output image when variable information is combined with master data, and failure may be found only after printing.

  An application for checking an image after combining master data and variable information using a display of a personal computer or the like is on the market.

  However, in the preview on the screen of the personal computer, there is a problem that it is difficult to input one page at a time when the amount of variable information is very large.

  The present invention can solve the above problems by providing the following configuration.

  (1) In an image processing apparatus that synthesizes and outputs first image data and at least one second image data, the second image data is a plurality of pieces of image data included in a synthesized image data group. A first image composition mode for combining the first image data and any image data included in the composite image data group, the first image data, and the composite image. An image processing apparatus comprising: a second image synthesis mode for synthesizing at least two image data included in a data group.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily confirm whether a problem in the layout plane is derived from variable data printing.

  According to claim 2 of the present invention, for example, the variable data portion can be made red or the like, and can be easily distinguished from the fixed data portion.

  Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, since it is possible to confirm the synthesis of only a part of all the data of the variable data print, it is possible to confirm only a specific range of data.

  Furthermore, according to claim 4 of the present invention, it is possible to easily know a record in which a problem occurs in the layout.

  The present invention is not limited to image data for each of fixed data and variable data, but can be applied to a configuration in which either or both are input as text data, for example, and converted into image data for synthesis. .

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  First, a printer that executes variable data printing has the same configuration as a normal printer except for image processing. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a printer for carrying out the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, 4 is a printer, 5 is a communication unit that communicates with an external device via a network, 6 is a CPU that controls the entire printer 4 and executes processing by software such as image processing, and 7 stores image data and the like. A memory 8 is initially executed when the printer 4 is started, and stores a program such as reading and executing an operating system execution program from the hard disk, and 9 stores an operating system, a printer control program, image data, and the like. , A hard disk that reads / writes upon request, 10 is a printer unit that reads out image data stored in the memory 7 and forms an image on paper based on the image data, and 101 is a local communication path with an external device. Network 102, printer 4, communication unit 5, CPU 6, RAM 7, ROM 8, an internal bus data transfer path between the hard disk 9, the printer unit 10.

  The operation as a normal printer will be described below with reference to FIG.

  When the printer 4 is activated, the CPU 6 first reads and executes the program stored in the ROM 8. This program is controlled to read and execute an operating system operating program from the hard disk 9. The hard disk 9 has an area and data arrangement shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, 12 is an OS area for storing files related to the operating system, 13 is a program area for storing printer control programs, 14 is a master data area for storing data related to variable data printing, and 15 is temporarily. This is a temporary storage area used for storing image data and the like. Reference numeral 16 denotes an OS file that is an operating program of the operating system, and reference numeral 17 denotes a RIP program file that is a printer control program.

  The OS file 16 is read from the hard disk 9 and executed by the CPU 6. As a result, an operating system for controlling the entire printer 4 is started, and the RIP program file 17 is read from the hard disk 9 and executed.

  The RIP program file is a program that receives print job data from an external device, interprets the received data, generates image data, and forms and outputs an image on paper from the image data.

  When print job data is transmitted from an external device via the local network 101, this program receives print data from the external device via the communication unit 5 and stores it in the temporary storage area 15 of the hard disk 9.

  After receiving all the data of the print job and storing it in the temporary storage area 15 of the hard disk 9, the CPU 6 reads out and interprets the print job data stored in the hard disk 9, and generates image data for printing. Image data is generated on the RAM 7. After all the image data of the print job is generated, the CPU 6 controls the printer unit 10 so that the printer unit 10 acquires the image data generated on the RAM 7 via the internal bus 102 and puts the image on a sheet. Form and output.

  Thus, the communication printing operation is completed.

  Next, the case of variable data printing will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram that best represents the present invention. In FIG. 1, 36 is an output sheet, 32 is a master data image, and 31 is a post-combination variable data image.

  In general, when variable data printing is performed, data common to all pages, called master data, and variable data, which is different for each page, are combined by an image processing means, printed, and output. It is.

  The same applies to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external view of the master data. In FIG. 2, 37 is data for the entire page, and 32 is a fixed data portion that is an image common to each page.

  The variable data is supplied from the external device in the form of a print job. FIG. 8 shows the data structure of a print job supplied from an external device. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 51 denotes a synthesis mode flag for designating whether to execute normal variable data printing or to perform printing in the synthesis confirmation mode. Field, 52 is a master data designation field for designating which master data stored in the hard disk 9 is to be used, 53 is a variable data record including data of image portions different for each page as independent data for each page, Reference numerals 54 to 56 denote record images which are data of different image portions for each page.

  In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the master data area 14 stores three master data 18, 19, and 20.

  Further, FIG. 3 shows image data of variable information different for each page, 38, 39, and 40 are page data, and 33, 34, and 35 are variable data sections, respectively. Reference numerals 38, 39, and 40 denote data entities described as record images 54, 55, and 56 in the data structure shown in FIG.

  When the master data shown in FIG. 2 and the variable data shown in FIG. 3 are synthesized by variable data printing, the output shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. This is the target output for variable data printing.

  However, the variable data section 34 in FIG. 4 has a character string that is too long and has reached the end of the sheet, and there is a possibility that an image cannot be formed correctly.

  The present embodiment has a normal variable data printing mode and a composition confirmation mode for confirming the composition result in order to easily find such a problem in advance.

  In the composition confirmation mode, it is possible to easily confirm that there is no problem by composing and outputting an image obtained by composing all the variable data sections and the master data, and viewing the output one sheet.

  The external page shown in FIG. 1 is a combination of the variable page data 38, 39, 40 and the master page data 37 in the composition confirmation mode. Reference numeral 31 denotes a composite variable data portion that is a composite of the variable page data 38, 39, and 40, and 32 denotes a fixed data portion of the master page data 37. In this embodiment, a variable data print control program whose flow chart is shown in FIG. 7 is incorporated in the printer 4 in order to obtain such an output.

  Processing will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the printer 4 is activated, the control program shown in FIG. 7 is activated (S500).

  It is determined whether or not a print job has been transmitted from the external device via the local network 101, and step S501 is repeated until it is transmitted. When transmission is started, S502 is executed (S501).

  Print job data from an external device is received via the communication unit 5 and stored in the hard disk 9 (S502).

In step S502, the print job data stored in the hard disk 9 is analyzed. In the case of a variable data print job, the data structure is as shown in FIG. The number of variable data records included in the variable data record 53 having this data structure is calculated by analyzing the print job data, and is substituted into the variable N (S503).
1 is substituted into the variable X (S504).

  It is determined whether the compositing mode flag 51 of the printing time part data is the variable data print mode or the compositing confirmation mode. If the variable data printing mode is selected, S506 is executed. If not, S510 is executed (S505).

  The master data designated by the master data designation field 52 of the print job data and the image of the Xth record of the print job data are combined and stored in the RAM 7. The designation by the master data designation field 52 designates any of the master data stored in the hard disk 9. Here, for example, the master data 18 in FIG. 6 is designated, and an image of the master data is shown in FIG. It is assumed that the page data 37. Also. The record means a record image included in the variable data record 53 of the print job data. The first is 54, the second is 55, the third is 56, and the appearance of each image data is page data 38, 39, 40.

  Therefore, the result of combining the page data 38 that is the first record and the page data 37 that is the master data is as shown in the page data 41 of FIG. Similarly, the composition result of the page data 39 that is the second record and the page data 37 that is the master data is the page data 42 in FIG. 4, the page data 40 that is the third record, and the page data 37 that is the master data. The composite result is as shown in the page data 43 in FIG. 4 (S506).

  In step S506, the image data stored in the RAM 7 is transferred to the printer unit 10 to form an image on a sheet (S507).

  X + 1 is substituted into the variable X (S508).

  If X = N, S516 is executed, otherwise S506 is executed (S509).

  In this way, variable data printing is realized.

  Next, the composition confirmation mode will be described. If it is determined in S505 that the composition mode flag 51 is not the variable data print mode, that is, the composition confirmation mode, S510 is executed. Here, first, blank image data for executing image processing is generated on the RAM 7 (S510).

  The work image prepared in S510, the Xth record image included in the variable data record 53 of the print job data, and the work image are combined and stored again in the RAM 7 as a work image (S511).

  X + 1 is substituted into the variable X (S512).

  If X = N, S514 is executed, otherwise S511 is executed (S513).

  That is, an image obtained by combining all the record images included in the variable data record 53 of the print job data is generated in the RAM 7 as a work image.

  The master page data 37 and the work image are combined, and the combined image is stored in the RAM 7 (S514).

  The image data stored in the RAM 7 is transferred to the printer unit 10 to form an image on a sheet (S515).

  In this way, an output result as shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained in the synthesis confirmation mode.

  According to the present embodiment, since the processing is almost the same as the printing in the final variable data print, accurate confirmation can be performed.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  This embodiment implements claim 4 of the present invention.

  The block diagram of the printer in this embodiment is as shown in FIG. 10, which is added with some units as compared with the block diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Describing these, 70 is a mouse I / F for acquiring coordinate information and button press information input from a mouse, 71 is a monitor for displaying an image, 73 is a video card for generating an image signal to be displayed on the monitor, 73 Is a mouse which is a means for inputting dialogue with the user, 103 is a monitor cable for connecting the video card 71 and the monitor, and 104 is a mouse I / F cable for connecting the mouse I / F 70 and the mouse 73.

  The object of the present embodiment is to make it easy to confirm which record contains data that is problematic from the viewpoint of layout when variable data printing is executed. For this reason, only a different part compared with a 1st Example is demonstrated.

  In order to confirm which record contains the data in question, the image data after synthesis is displayed by an image display means such as a monitor, and the area in which the user has a problem data from the displayed image data It is preferable from the viewpoint of ease of use to select and display the record that is the source of the image data in the selected area.

  For this reason, the printer 4 is controlled by a control program operating as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, steps S500 to S514 in the flowchart of FIG. 11 are the same as those in the first embodiment in operation, and therefore will be omitted.

  After the master data and the work image are combined in S514, the combined image generated in S514 is displayed on the monitor 72 via the video card 71 and the monitor cable 103. The displayed window is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, 60 is a displayed window, 61 is synthesized page data, 62 is a fixed data portion included in the master data, 63 is a synthesized variable data portion obtained by synthesizing the variable data portion, and 64 is a page by the user. An area selection box 65 for selecting a specific area of data is a pointer for letting the user know a specific position on the screen that is moved by the operation of the mouse.

  After the window 60 is displayed, the user operates the mouse 73 to move the pointer 65 displayed on the monitor 72 to select the problematic part on the page data 61 by the area selection box. (S515).

  S517 is repeated until the user completes the selection (S517).

  A record including image data in the area selection box is extracted (S518).

  The record extracted in S518 is displayed. The window is displayed as shown in FIG. In FIG. 12, 81 is a field display window, 82 is an up button for selecting a record to be displayed in the preview display portion of extracted records, 83 is a list of extracted records, and 84 is a list of extracted records. A down button for selecting a record to be displayed in the preview display section, a preview display section 85 for displaying a preview of the selected record, and an OK button 86.

  A preview of the selected record in the record list 83 is displayed in the preview display section 85. When another extracted record is selected by the up button 82 or the down button 84, a preview display of the selected record is displayed in the preview display section 85. (S519).

The program is terminated by pressing the OK button 86 (S520).
As described above, when a composite confirmation mode print job is submitted, the image data obtained by combining all the variable data and master data included in the print job is displayed on the monitor 72, and the problem area of the displayed image is selected. Then, it is possible to extract a record having image data in that area and display a preview.

Outline view of composition confirmation mode output of the first embodiment Master data external view of the first embodiment Variable part data external view of the first embodiment Normal composite mode output external view of the first embodiment Block diagram of the first embodiment of the first embodiment Data layout on the disk of the first embodiment Flow chart of the first embodiment The figure which shows the input data structure of a 1st Example External view of composite confirmation display of second embodiment Block diagram of the second embodiment Flow chart of the second embodiment External view of the selected record display screen of the second embodiment

Explanation of symbols

31 Composite variable data part (post-combination variable data image)
32 Fixed data part (master data image)
36 Paper 37 Page data

Claims (4)

In an image processing apparatus that synthesizes and outputs first image data and at least one second image data,
The second image data is one of a plurality of image data included in the composite image data group,
A first image composition mode for combining the first image data and any image data included in the composite image data group;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a second image synthesis mode for synthesizing the first image data and at least two image data included in the synthesized image data group.   In the second image composition mode, after performing image processing so that at least two image data included in the composite image data group can be visually distinguished from the first image data, the first image The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is combined with data. Image conversion means for converting image data;
Image combining means for combining two or more image data to generate new image data;
An image processing apparatus that synthesizes and outputs image data included in a first image data group including a plurality of image data and second image data,
A first combining mode for combining one of the image data included in the first image data group and the second image data by the image combining means;
Has a second synthesis mode,
The second synthesis mode is:
Let the user select part or all of the image data included in the first image data group,
The selected image data is converted by the image conversion means,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the converted image data and the second image data are synthesized and output. Image conversion means for converting image data;
Image synthesizing means for synthesizing two or more image data to generate new image data;
Image display means for displaying image data;
Input means for selecting and instructing a part of the image displayed on the image display means;
Determining means for extracting image data existing in the area instructed to be selected by the input means;
An image processing apparatus that combines image data included in a first image data group including a plurality of image data and second image data,
A first combining mode for combining one of the image data included in the first image data group and the second image data by the image combining means;
Has a second synthesis mode,
The second synthesis mode is:
Select some or all of the image data included in the first image data group to the user,
The selected image data is converted by the image conversion means,
Combining the converted image data and the second image data,
Accepting a selection instruction of a part of the image output from the input means that is combined and output;
An image processing apparatus, wherein the determination unit determines image data included in a selection-instructed area received by receiving the selection instruction.