JP2006345195A - Driver program, printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a driver program with which the processing of a print request to a printer is executed by a host device and which can accurately perform ground processing as to printing of image data scanned in color mode. <P>SOLUTION: When data of an object to be printed are data obtained by scanning a document in color mode, the driver program which makes the host device perform processing for generating image data for a printer as to the data of the object to be printed and transmit the generated image data to the printer divides image data of one generated page for the printer into a plurality areas, determines a part corresponding to a ground part of the page of the document based upon density distributions by the areas, changes image data of the determined part into data representing a specific color, and transmits the image data after change to the printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a driver program or the like that causes a host device to execute processing for generating image data for a printing apparatus and transmitting the image data to the printing apparatus, and in particular, appropriately performs ground processing for printing image data scanned in a color mode. The present invention relates to a driver program that can be executed.

  Conventionally, a document is scanned by a scanner to form image data, and printing is performed based on the image data. The same processing is also performed in a copying machine or the like. When printing with such scanned data, if the scanning is performed in color and the original background portion of the document to be scanned is originally colored, the color of this background portion will be reproduced during printing. However, in many cases, it is not necessary to reproduce this background color.

In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-228688 proposes a color image processing apparatus that detects a background color of a document image and changes a corresponding color image signal.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-213073

  However, Patent Document 1 only describes that the background color is detected from the color density distribution based on data for one scan or a plurality of scans. In the document to be scanned, there are variations in the background color itself depending on the location, and the proportion of the portion that is not the background color is also different. Therefore, in order to accurately detect the background color, further ingenuity is required. Necessary. If the scanned color is printed by detecting the background color only by the processing described in Patent Document 1, the background color cannot be erased sufficiently, or the color of the portion that is not the background is also erased. It is thought that there is a risk that this happens.

  In addition, as described above, the process in which the background color is reproduced and printed is particularly important when a document composed of multiple pages is mixed with pages scanned in monochrome mode and pages scanned in color mode. Since the reproduced background color of the page scanned in the color mode is conspicuous and gives the user a sense of incongruity, it is not suitable. Also, reproducing the background color gives the user a feeling of wasting toner or ink. Therefore, it is desirable to accurately perform the processing of the background color.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is a driver program that causes a host device to execute processing for sending image data to a printing apparatus and requesting printing, and to accurately perform background processing for printing image data scanned in a color mode. It is to provide a driver program or the like that can be performed.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a process for generating image data for a printing apparatus for data of a printing object and transmitting the generated image data to the printing apparatus is performed in a host apparatus. The driver program to be executed divides the generated image data for one page of the printing apparatus into a plurality of areas when the print target data is data obtained by scanning a document in a color mode. Based on the density distribution for each region, a portion corresponding to the background portion of the page of the document is determined, the image data of the determined portion is changed to data representing a predetermined color, and the changed image data Is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and the host apparatus is caused to execute the process.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is characterized in that the change of the image data is changed to data representing white.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferable aspect is that the portion corresponding to the background portion is determined based on a mode value, an average value, and a standard deviation of density values of each pixel in each region. Features.

  Furthermore, in the above-described invention, a preferable aspect is that, in determining the portion corresponding to the base portion, the standard deviation is smaller than a predetermined value, and the mode is not more than the standard deviation from the average value. The method is performed by selecting the region that satisfies a condition and extracting a pixel having the density value in a range of the density value obtained from the average value and the standard deviation of the selected region. .

  In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention provides a host device with processing for generating image data for a printing apparatus for data of a printing object and transmitting the generated image data to the printing apparatus. The driver program to be executed, when the print target data is data obtained by scanning a document in a color mode, based on the data of the outer peripheral portion in the generated image data for a printing device for one page, Processing for determining a portion corresponding to a background portion in a document, changing the image data of the determined portion to data representing a predetermined color, and transmitting the changed image data to the printing apparatus It is to make the device execute.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, a process for generating image data for a printing apparatus for data of a printing object and transmitting the generated image data to the printing apparatus is performed by a host apparatus. The driver program to be executed on the basis of data when the print object data is data obtained by scanning the original in color mode and the same medium as the original is scanned in color mode. Determining a portion corresponding to a background portion in the document, changing the image data of the determined portion to data representing a predetermined color, and transmitting the changed image data to the printing apparatus. Is executed by the host device.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, a process for generating image data for a printing apparatus for data of a printing object and transmitting the generated image data to the printing apparatus is performed by a host apparatus. The driver program to be executed when the print object data is data obtained by scanning a document in a color mode, based on data of a portion specified by a user in the generated image data for a printing apparatus, Processing for determining a portion corresponding to a background portion in a document, changing the image data of the determined portion to data representing a predetermined color, and transmitting the changed image data to the printing apparatus It is to make the device execute.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus that performs printing based on image data for printing of an object to be printed, the object to be printed is data obtained by scanning a document in a color mode. In some cases, the printing image data for one page is divided into a plurality of regions, and a portion corresponding to the background portion of the original of the page is determined based on the density distribution for each region. In other words, the image data of the selected portion is changed to data representing a predetermined color, and printing is performed based on the changed image data.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing method in which printing is performed based on image data for printing of a print object, wherein the print object is data obtained by scanning a document in a color mode. In this case, the printing image data for one page is divided into a plurality of regions, and a portion corresponding to the background portion of the original of the page is determined based on the density distribution for each region. The image data of the portion thus changed is changed to data representing a predetermined color, and printing is performed based on the changed image data.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printing system using a driver program according to the present invention. The printer driver 12 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a driver program using the present invention in a printing system composed of a host computer 1 and a printer 2, and the printing system according to the present embodiment performs processing according to the program, The image data scanned in the color mode is to be printed after an appropriate background processing is performed.

  The host computer 1 is a host device in the present embodiment, and transmits processed image data to the printer 2 to make a print request. The printing system is, for example, a so-called host-based system, and performs image data expansion processing, color conversion processing, and the like on the host computer 1 side. As shown in FIG. 1, the host computer 1 includes an application 11, a printer driver 12, a memory 13, an image file 14, and the like. The host computer 1 can be configured by a so-called personal computer.

  The application 11 is, for example, a print request source such as document creation software, and passes data to be printed to the printer driver 12 in a predetermined format. The image file 14 is a data file that stores image data generated by scanning with a scanner or the like, and is stored in a data storage means (not shown) such as a hard disk provided in the host computer 1. This printing system is characterized by processing when printing is performed on image data scanned in the color mode stored in the image file 14. Further, when printing the image data stored in the image file 14, a print request can be made via the application 11.

  The printer driver 12 is a part that receives a print request from the application 11, generates image data for the printer 2, and transmits the image data to the printer 2 as a print job. The printer driver 12 has a feature in the background processing when printing the image data scanned in the color mode, and specific processing contents will be described later. The printer driver 12 can be configured by a program for instructing a processing procedure and a control device that executes processing according to the program. The program, that is, the driver program may be installed in the host computer 1 from a state stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be installed on a predetermined site via a network such as the Internet. May be downloaded from and installed in the host computer 1.

  Next, the memory 13 is a storage means such as a RAM provided in the host computer 1 and is used for various purposes. The memory 13 temporarily stores data at each stage until image data to be transmitted to the printer 2 is generated. To store. In particular, it retains a mesh management table or the like generated during the background processing of the image data scanned in the color mode described above.

  The printer 2 is, for example, a four-cycle laser printer that receives a print job (image data) from the host computer 1 and executes printing based on the print data. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 includes an I / F 21, a CPU 22, a ROM 23, a RAM 24, an engine I / F 25, and an engine 26.

  The I / F 21 is a part that controls an interface function with the host computer 1 and receives the print job. The CPU 22 is a part that controls various printing processes of the printer 2, and the ROM 23 stores a program for instructing processes executed by the CPU 22. The RAM 24 stores the received image data, data processed by the CPU 22, and the like. The engine I / F 25 is a part that reads out image data stored in the RAM 24, performs a predetermined process, and transfers the processed data to the engine 26. The engine 26 is a part that executes printing on a print medium based on the data transferred from the engine I / F 25.

  As described above, the printing system according to the present embodiment having the configuration as described above has a feature in processing when printing is performed on the image data scanned in the color mode described above. Will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing when printing is performed on image data scanned in the color mode. First, image data scanned in the color mode to be printed is acquired (step S10). This is performed by capturing image data generated by scanning a document using a scanner or the like (not shown) into the host computer 1 as the above-described image file 14 based on a user operation.

  Next, a user who intends to execute printing using the printing system issues a printing instruction for the acquired scanning data using the application 11 (step S20). In the following description, the processing when the print instruction is made for image data for one page scanned in the color mode will be described. Specifically, the print instruction is made by a user performing a predetermined operation on an interface screen provided by the application 11. However, when printing is performed after performing the background processing that is a feature of the printing system, An operation for executing the background processing option is performed on the interface screen.

  When the print instruction is given, the printer driver 12 receives the image data to be printed sent from the application 11, and then generates image data for the printer 2 (step S30). Specifically, so-called expanded data having a density value for each color is generated for each pixel. For example, when the printer 2 performs printing with four colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), the generated image data has CMYK colors for each pixel. Density values (for example, values from 0 to 255).

  Next, when there is an instruction to perform the background processing option described above at the time of the print instruction, the printer driver 12 executes the background processing (step S40). This background processing has a feature of the present printing system, and specific processing contents will be described later. By the background processing, processing for changing the color of the background portion in the page to be printed to white is performed. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the background processing. FIG. 3A shows an image when the image data scanned in the color mode and the background portion has a color other than white is printed as it is, and FIG. 3B shows the image data. The image data after the background processing is expressed as an image after printing. Thus, in the background processing, the background portion image data is changed to be white.

  Next, the printer driver 12 transmits the image data after the background processing to the printer 2 (step S50). It is desirable that the image data be compressed by a predetermined method before transmission. The transmitted image data is received by the printer 2, and the printer 2 executes a printing process for the image data (step S60). Since the background portion is whitened by the background processing, the portion that was the background in the original at the time of scanning becomes white after printing. That is, no toner is applied to the portion.

  As described above, the image data scanned in the color mode is printed. Hereinafter, the background processing which is a main feature will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the background processing. First, the image data to be processed (for one page) is divided into a plurality of regions (mesh) (step S41). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating such mesh division. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the image data is divided by a predetermined width in the vertical direction, and the divided areas are called the first mesh, the second mesh, and the final mesh in order from the top. The mesh division shown here is an example, and other mesh divisions having different mesh sizes and shapes may be used.

  Next, the following processing is performed for each mesh in order to grasp the density distribution in the region. First, density information (density value) possessed by each pixel in the mesh is collected (step S42). As described above, each pixel has, for example, 256 gradation density values of each color of CMYK. Here, the density values of these four colors are converted into one-dimensional density values based on a predetermined formula, for example, monochrome. The density value is converted so that each pixel has a density value of 256 gradations.

  Then, a mode value, an average value, and a standard deviation are calculated for the converted density value of each pixel in the mesh (step S43). Then, these calculated values are stored in the memory 13 in the form of a mesh management table (step S44). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating this mesh management table. In the table shown in FIG. 6, for example, each value of mesh number 1 is obtained by calculating and storing the mode value, average value, and standard deviation of the density value for the first mesh shown in FIG. .

  Such processing for each mesh (S42 to S44) is repeated until all meshes are completed (No in step S45), and when the processing is completed for all meshes of the target page (Yes in step S45), that is, In the example shown in FIG. 5, when the process proceeds in order from the first mesh and the process (S42 to S44) is completed up to the final mesh, the process proceeds to step S46. At this point, the mesh management table for the page is completed, and for example, data as shown in FIG.

  In step S46, based on the mesh management table, a mesh whose standard deviation is equal to or less than a predetermined value α and whose mode is within the average value ± standard deviation is selected. In general, since the color uniformity of the background portion is high, the standard deviation is small in the density distribution of the mesh where the background portion is large, and the mode value is considered to be within the average value ± standard deviation. Therefore, it can be said that there is a high possibility that most of the meshes selected by the above processing are meshes that are ground portions. The predetermined value α is preferably 10 or less, and more preferably 5 or less, when the density value is expressed in 256 gradations.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the state of the density distribution of each mesh. In FIG. 7, density value distributions are shown in (a) to (c) for the first mesh, the second mesh, and the final mesh shown in FIG. Here, the horizontal axis represents the density value after the conversion of 256 gradations, and the vertical axis represents the number of pixels having the density value. As is clear from the figure, in the second mesh shown in (b), the density variation is large, and thus the standard deviation value is also large (see the standard deviation value in mesh number 2 in FIG. 6). This second mesh is not selected in the processing in step 46.

  On the other hand, in the first mesh and the final mesh shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the variation in density is small, and the corresponding standard deviation in FIG. 6, that is, the standard deviation 5.97 of mesh number 1 and the mesh As can be seen from the standard deviation 2.79 of the number n, the standard deviation values σ1 and σn become small, and these meshes are selected in the processing in step 46. In the example shown in FIG. 5, only the first mesh and the final mesh are selected in the processing in step 46. As can be seen from FIG. 5, most of the selected first mesh and final mesh are the background as described above.

  As described above, when a mesh is selected, a white background target range is determined (step S47). The whitening target range is a range of density values after conversion (one-dimensionalized), and image data of pixels having density values that fall within this range is changed to white image data in the background processing. It is a thing that ends up. Specifically, a range obtained by combining the average value ± standard deviation ranges of the selected meshes is set as the whitening target range. In the example shown in FIG. 5, since the first mesh and the final mesh are selected as described above, the average value of the first mesh ± the standard deviation σ1 range W1 and the average of the final mesh are selected as shown in FIG. W combined with the range Wn of the value ± standard deviation σn is determined as the whitening target range. Thus, when a plurality of meshes are selected, a range including the range of the average value ± standard deviation of each mesh is determined as the whitening target range.

  As described above, when the whitening target range is determined, for all the pixels in the page of the target range, it is checked whether or not the (one-dimensionalized) density value falls within the whitening target range. For pixels having density values that fall within the range, the image data is converted to white (step S48). Specifically, for example, the density value of each color of CMYK of the corresponding pixel is changed to represent white.

  As described above, the background processing for the image data of the page to be processed is completed, and the processed image data is sent to the printer 2 and printed as described above.

  As described above, the printing system according to this embodiment can perform background processing when printing image data scanned in the color mode. In the background processing, the background processing is divided into a plurality of parts. Based on the density distribution for each mesh, pixels that are whitened are extracted, and the color of the extracted pixels is changed to white. Since printing is executed with the changed image data, toner is not applied to the extracted pixel portion and is output as white. In addition, since the target area for white background is determined based on the processing in steps S46 and S47 of FIG. 4 described above, it is possible to accurately extract the portion that is the background and whiten.

  Therefore, when printing image data scanned in the color mode with this printing system, the background portion can be whitened more accurately than before, and the appearance after printing can be improved. It is possible to reduce the consumption of toner. In the background processing, as described above, the whitening target range is determined by the distribution state regardless of whether the density value is large or small, that is, whether the color is bright or not. It is possible to process even if the background of the scanned document is not a pale color such as white.

  In the above description, the whitening target range is determined from all the meshes selected in step S46 in FIG. 4, but the mesh with the smallest standard deviation is selected from the selected meshes, and the mesh is selected. The average value ± standard deviation range may be used as the whitening target range. In such a case, the average value and standard deviation of the one-dimensional density values of the entire page are calculated, and the average value of the mesh that minimizes the standard deviation within the range of the average value ± standard deviation. It is necessary to confirm that Alternatively, only a predetermined number of meshes may be selected from the selected meshes in ascending order of standard deviation, and the whitening target range may be determined from these meshes by the same method.

  In the above embodiment, the color of the pixel determined as the background portion is changed to white. However, it may be changed to a color other than white. As a result, it is possible to print out the background color requested by the user.

  In the embodiment, the range of the average value ± standard deviation is used to determine the whitening target range, but the range of average value ± standard deviation × coefficient (for example, a value of 1 or more and less than 2) is used. Also good. By slightly widening the whitening target range, it is possible to sufficiently whiten the background portion.

  The mesh cutting method shown in FIG. 5 is an example, and the size and shape of the mesh may be changed as appropriate. As an example, the size of the mesh may be made smaller in the outer peripheral portion (for example, the portion A in FIG. 8) of the page that generally includes a lot of background portions than in other portions. Thereby, it is possible to determine the white background target range more appropriately.

  In the above embodiment, the data of each pixel having density values of a plurality of colors is converted into a one-dimensional density value and then whitening of the pixel is determined based on the density distribution. A density distribution may be taken for each of a plurality of colors, and white background determination may be performed based on these distributions.

  Next, a first modification of the embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, as described above, the density distribution is checked for the entire area of the target page in order to determine the color of the background portion (for determination of the whitening target range). The background color is determined based on the density distribution in the outer peripheral portion of the target page.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an outer peripheral portion of the target page. A range A indicated by a cloud shape in FIG. 8 is an outer peripheral portion of the page, and in this modified example, attention is paid to the fact that a printed matter such as normal text includes a lot of background portions, and the density distribution of the portion To determine the area to be whitened. The specific area having the density distribution may be the entire outer peripheral part, or as shown by B in FIG. 8, predetermined areas are determined in advance in the upper and lower parts and the left and right parts of the page. The white background target range may be determined from the density distribution. According to this method, since the color of the background portion is determined from the data of the region which is expected to be mostly the background portion, it is possible to perform the appropriate background processing. The processing after grasping the density distribution of each mesh can be performed in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

  Next, a second modification will be described. In the present modification, the above-described white background target range is not determined from the page to be processed, but is the same paper (medium) as the original of the page and nothing is printed (not drawn). The original is scanned under the same conditions, and the whitening target range is determined from the image data. This method also makes it possible to perform appropriate ground processing. In addition, as a method for determining a white background target range from image data of a document that has not been printed, for example, the distribution of the one-dimensional density values of the entire page is taken, and the average value and standard deviation are determined. There are methods.

  Next, a third modification will be described. In this modification, the user determines a portion (area) used for determining the background color in the target page. For example, when the user issues a print instruction with a background processing option for the target page (step S20 in FIG. 2), the range of the page is visually displayed on the display unit of the host computer 1, and the display is performed. The portion of the page pointed to by the user is assumed to be a background portion, and the background color is determined from the portion. The portion pointed to by the user may be a point or a range. Further, when indicated by a point, a range of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape with the point as the center may be determined as the base portion. Further, there may be a plurality of portions indicated by the user. In this modification, the white background processing is performed on the portion corresponding to the background color determined in this way. In this way, the user can perform more appropriate background processing by pointing to the portion that is the background.

  In the above-described embodiments and modifications, a host-based printing system is assumed and the background processing is performed on the host computer 1 side. However, when the background processing is not a host-based printing system, the background processing is performed by the printer 2. It may be performed on the side. In such a case, a program for instructing the above-described background processing procedure is stored in the ROM 23, and the CPU 22 executes the background processing in accordance with the instruction of the program.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

It is a block diagram concerning the example of an embodiment using the driver program by the present invention. It is the flowchart which illustrated the process at the time of printing of scanning data. It is the figure which illustrated the image of ground processing. It is the flowchart which illustrated the processing procedure of ground processing. It is the figure which illustrated mesh division. It is the figure which illustrated the mesh management table. It is the figure which illustrated the state of the density distribution of each mesh. It is the figure which illustrated the peripheral part of the object page.

Explanation of symbols

1 Host computer, 2 Printer, 11 Application, 12 Printer driver, 13 Memory, 14 Image file, 21 I / F, 22
CPU, 23 ROM, 24 RAM, 25 engine I / F, 26 engine

Claims (9)

A driver program for generating image data for a printing apparatus for data of a printing object and causing the host apparatus to execute processing for transmitting the generated image data to the printing apparatus,
When the print object data is data obtained by scanning an original in color mode,
The generated image data for a printing device for one page is divided into a plurality of regions, and a portion corresponding to the background portion of the original of the page is determined based on the density distribution for each region. A driver program that causes the host device to execute a process of changing the image data of the selected portion into data representing a predetermined color and transmitting the changed image data to the printing device. In claim 1,
The driver program, wherein the change of the image data is to change to data representing white. In claim 1 or claim 2,
The driver program, wherein the portion corresponding to the background portion is determined based on a mode value, an average value, and a standard deviation of density values of each pixel in each region. In claim 3,
The portion corresponding to the background portion is determined by selecting the region that satisfies the condition that the standard deviation is smaller than a predetermined value and the mode value is not more than the standard deviation from the average value. A driver program characterized by being extracted by extracting a pixel having a density value in a range of the density value obtained from the average value and the standard deviation of a region. A driver program for generating image data for a printing apparatus for data of a printing object and causing the host apparatus to execute processing for transmitting the generated image data to the printing apparatus,
When the print object data is data obtained by scanning an original in color mode,
Based on the data of the outer peripheral portion of the generated image data for one page of the printing apparatus, a portion corresponding to the background portion of the original is determined, and the image data of the determined portion represents a predetermined color. A driver program for changing to data and transmitting the changed image data to the printing apparatus, causing the host apparatus to execute processing. A driver program for generating image data for a printing apparatus for data of a printing object and causing the host apparatus to execute processing for transmitting the generated image data to the printing apparatus,
When the print object data is data obtained by scanning an original in color mode,
Based on data obtained by scanning the same medium as the original and a plain medium in a color mode, a portion corresponding to a background portion of the original is determined, and the image data of the determined portion is determined to have a predetermined color. A driver program for causing the host device to execute a process of changing the data to data representing the image data and transmitting the changed image data to the printing device. A driver program for generating image data for a printing apparatus for data of a printing object, and causing the host apparatus to execute processing for transmitting the generated image data to the printing apparatus,
When the print object data is data obtained by scanning an original in color mode,
Based on the data of the part specified by the user in the generated image data for the printing apparatus, a part corresponding to the background part in the document is determined, and the image data of the determined part is data representing a predetermined color A driver program for causing the host device to execute a process of transmitting the changed image data to the printing apparatus. A printing apparatus that performs printing based on printing image data of a printing object,
When the print object is data obtained by scanning an original in color mode,
The printing image data for one page is divided into a plurality of regions, a portion corresponding to the background portion of the original of the page is determined based on the density distribution for each region, and the determined portion A printing apparatus, wherein image data is changed to data representing a predetermined color, and printing is performed based on the changed image data. A printing method for performing printing based on image data for printing of a printing object,
When the print object is data obtained by scanning an original in color mode,
The printing image data for one page is divided into a plurality of regions, a portion corresponding to the background portion of the original of the page is determined based on the density distribution for each region, and the determined portion A printing method comprising: changing image data to data representing a predetermined color, and performing printing based on the changed image data.

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