JP2007174213A - Image processing program, image processing method, printer, and printing instruction device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing program, an image processing method, a printer, and a printing instruction device capable of superimposing a form image on document data so that the hidden pattern of the form image being a copy deterrent image becomes inconspicuous when printed, and appears easily when copied, even if the document data comprise objects such as figures, photographs, etc. <P>SOLUTION: This image processing program includes a step for determining whether or not the form image is superimposed on the document data, a step for determining whether or not the document data comprise a figure, when the form image is superimposed on the document data, and a step for correcting the density of the figure, when the document data comprise the figure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing program, an image processing method, a printing apparatus, and a print instruction apparatus for a confidential document to which a copy check image (form image) including a background pattern that is not reproduced during copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced during copying is added.

In recent years, for the purpose of suppressing unauthorized copying and tracking of the copy path, a copy check image (form image) in which hidden characters (document name, date, printer, etc.) appear when copied is printed on the background of the original document. A system is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-298717 (paragraph [0041], FIGS. 1 and 4)

  However, since the conventional printing system superimposes the form image regardless of the document image (original image), there is a problem that the hidden character becomes conspicuous in the area filled with the light density. On the other hand, there is a problem that in a region filled with a high density, hidden characters do not appear even if copied. In addition, when the background pattern is a line and the screen angle of the line and the centralized dither is the same when the photo or figure of the document image is a centralized dither, the stripe pattern may be visible when the document image is combined with the document image. is there. The same applies to the case where the background pattern is a concentrated dither and the photograph or figure of the document image is a line.

  The above problem will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 shows an example of a form image. The form image 70 is a binary monochrome image with 1 bit per pixel, and includes a background pattern 71 and hidden characters 72. The background pattern 71 is composed of dots (shown by hatching in FIG. 11). The hidden character 72 is composed of a “prohibited copy” character. In the form image 70, since the density per unit area is constant, the hidden character 72 is not actually conspicuous, but is drawn for easy understanding in FIG.

  When the form image shown in FIG. 11 is superimposed on a document image having a graphic portion 73 having a predetermined density as shown in FIG. 12A, it does not overlap with the graphic portion 73 as shown in FIG. Although the hidden character 72 is not conspicuous, the hidden character 72 overlapping the graphic portion 73 is conspicuous due to the density of the graphic portion 73.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13A, the form image 70 is represented by a background pattern 71 and a character portion of the hidden pattern 72 by error diffusion as shown in FIG. If the form image and the original are combined when the central dither is expressed, as shown in FIG. 13C, if the screen angles of the central dither and the line are the same, a portion where dots overlap is displayed. Since there are more or less characters compared to the character part, the character part appears darker or thinner when combined, and appears to have a striped pattern, and is printed with an image different from the original.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to form a hidden pattern in a form image, which is a copy check image, so that the hidden pattern of the form image is not noticeable at the time of printing and easily floats at the time of copying, even when the document data includes objects such as graphics and photographs. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing program, an image processing method, a printing apparatus, and a print instruction apparatus that can superimpose images.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a form image composed of a background pattern that is not reproduced at the time of copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced at the time of copying is synthesized with document data, and the processing of the synthesized image is performed by a computer. A determination step of determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a figure or a photograph; and when the document data includes the object, a color designation value of the object is determined. There is provided an image processing program characterized by including a replacement step of replacing with another specified color value.

  The background pattern includes dot shapes and diagonal lines. The hidden pattern includes symbols, graphics, and the like in addition to characters such as confidential information, copy prohibition, and document data creation source.

  The replacing step may replace the color designation value of the object with a color designation value having a low density. By reducing the density of the object, the hidden pattern becomes inconspicuous during printing.

In the replacing step, the color of the color designation value of the object may be replaced with another color.
Depending on the combination of the color of the object and the color of the hidden pattern, the hidden pattern may be conspicuous at the time of printing. However, by replacing the object color with another color, the hidden pattern becomes inconspicuous at the time of printing.

  In the replacement step, each color component may be replaced with a different color designation value. When an object consists of a plurality of colors, the hidden pattern becomes inconspicuous at the time of printing by replacing each color of the object with another color.

  In the replacing step, the color designation value of the object that overlaps the hidden pattern may be substituted with another color designation value. In the replacement step, the color designation value of the object having a predetermined size or more with respect to the hidden pattern may be substituted with another color designation value.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, an image is formed by combining a form image composed of a background pattern that is not reproduced at the time of copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced at the time of copying, and processing the combined image. In the processing method, a determination step of determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a graphic or a photograph, and when the document data includes the object, the color specification value of the object is changed to another color specification value. An image processing method including a replacement step is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a printing apparatus for processing a composite image in which a form image composed of a background pattern not reproduced at the time of copying and a hidden pattern reproduced at the time of copying is combined with document data. Determining means for determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a graphic or a photograph; and color specification for replacing the color specification value of the object with another color specification value when the document data includes the object Provided is a printing apparatus comprising a value replacement unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a printing apparatus for processing a composite image in which a form image composed of a background pattern not reproduced during copying and a hidden pattern reproduced during copying is combined with document data. Determining means for determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a figure or a photo; and a step for correcting the gradation of the object using a gradation conversion table when the document data includes the object. Provided is a printing apparatus comprising a tone correction unit.

  In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a composite image obtained by combining a form image composed of a background pattern that is not reproduced at the time of copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced at the time of copying is transmitted to the printing apparatus. In the print instruction apparatus, a determination unit that determines whether or not the document data includes an object such as a graphic or a photograph; and when the document data includes the object, the color specification value of the object is set to another color specification value. There is provided a print instruction apparatus characterized by including a color designation value replacement unit for replacement.

  According to the first to fifth aspects, the color designation value of an object such as a figure or a photograph is replaced with another color designation value, so that the hidden pattern is not conspicuous at the time of printing and is likely to be lifted at the time of copying.

  As the printing apparatus, in addition to a copying machine and a printer, a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a fax can be used.

  As the print instruction device, an information terminal device capable of creating or handling document data such as a personal computer (PC) or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) can be used.

  According to the present invention, even when the document data includes objects such as graphics and photographs, the hidden pattern of the form image, which is a copy check image, is made inconspicuous at the time of printing, and the form image is added to the document data so that it is easy to float during copying. Can be superimposed.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system 1 includes a local computer (LAN), a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 2 as a printing instruction device connected to a network (NW) 3 such as the Internet, and a printer as a printing device. 4.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image processing system 1.

(Configuration of personal computer)
The PC 2 stores a form image generation unit 20 that generates a copy check image (hereinafter referred to as “form image”) including a hidden character (hidden pattern) and a background pattern, and document data created by word processing software in the PC 2. An image storage unit 21 composed of an HDD (hard disk) or the like and a form image generated by the form image generation unit 20 and document data in the image storage unit 21 are combined to generate PDL (Page Description Language) image data. A compositing unit 22, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, an input unit 23 for inputting various types of information, a control unit 24 for controlling each unit of the PC 2 based on input information from the input unit 23, and control of the control unit 24 And a communication unit 25 for outputting the PDL image data to the printer 3.

  The form image generation unit 20 generates a form image composed of a bitmap based on the form setting information. The form setting information includes hidden character information including a character string, font, font size, character decoration, character string angle, and the like, and background pattern information. Note that the form image is not limited to a bitmap.

  The control unit 24 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, and the like. The CPU of the control unit 24 controls each unit of the PC 2 according to a program such as an image processing program stored in a ROM, HDD, or the like.

(Printer configuration)
The printer 4 includes a communication unit 40 connected to the NW 3, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and the like. A control unit 41 that controls each unit of the printer 4 and an HDD that stores image data transmitted from the PC 2. An image storage unit 42, a color designation value replacement unit 43 that substitutes a color designation value of the image data with another color designation value, and an image forming unit 44A that prints the image data converted from the color designation value on paper. With.

  The color designation value replacement unit 43 replaces the color designation value of an object such as a figure or a photograph with another color designation value. For example, in the case where the object is a solid figure, the color designation value replacement unit 43, when the color designation value is equal to or higher than a predetermined density, makes the hidden pattern stand out at the time of printing. Replace with a color specification value with a lower density. Depending on the combination of the color of the object and the color of the hidden pattern, the hidden pattern is conspicuous at the time of printing, and the color designation value of the object is replaced with the color designation value of another color with reference to the color conversion table. Also, if the photo is represented with centralized dither, the background pattern is expressed with lines, and the hidden pattern is expressed with error diffusion, the screen angle of the centralized dither and the lines will match and the pattern will be printed. Since the image appears to rise, the density of the dots that make up the photo is lowered.

  The CPU of the control unit 41 controls each unit of the printer 4 according to a program such as an image processing program stored in a ROM, an HDD, or the like. In addition, the CPU of the control unit 41 determines whether or not a form image is superimposed on the document data. If the form image is superimposed, the CPU determines whether or not an object is included in the document data. If an object is included, the color designation value replacement unit 43 causes the color designation value of the object to be substituted with another color designation value.

  The image forming unit 44A includes a conversion unit 410 that converts PDL image data into bitmap (raster data), and a TRC (Tone Reproduction Curve) as a gradation conversion table for the output of the conversion unit 410. Are provided with a gradation correction unit 441A that performs gradation correction based on the above, and a printer engine unit 412 that prints output data of the gradation correction unit 441A on a sheet by, for example, an electrophotographic method.

  The TRC is a table for changing from a theoretical density to a density that matches the printer engine unit 412. By performing gradation correction using this TRC, it is possible to prevent a decrease in reproducibility due to response characteristics of the optical scanning device of the printer engine unit 412 and development characteristics of the developing unit. The TRC has, for example, every three color components R, G, and B.

(Form image)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form image generated by the form image generation unit 20 of FIG. FIG. 3A shows an example of a form image, and FIG. 3B shows a copy image obtained by copying the form image 28 of FIG. 3A with a normal copying machine (printer). The form image 28 shown in FIG. 3A is a binary monochrome image with 1 bit per pixel, and includes a background pattern 32 and hidden characters 33. The character “COPY” in FIG. 3A is an example of the hidden character 33 and is superimposed on a dot-like background pattern 32 (shown by hatching in FIG. 3A). Since the hidden character 33 is actually set to the same density as the background pattern 32, it is not clearly visible as shown in FIG. 3A, but is drawn for easy understanding. FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of the portion 28a surrounded by the square frame of the hidden character 33. The white rectangle and the black rectangle represent a white pixel and a black pixel, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the hidden characters 33 have relatively large dot patterns arranged relatively coarsely, and the background pattern 32 has relatively small dot patterns arranged relatively densely. The hidden characters 33 and the background pattern 32 are provided so that the average density (black pixel area per unit area) when printed on paper is the same. Accordingly, the human eyes cannot distinguish between the hidden character 33 and the background pattern 32, and the entire surface appears to be a uniform gray background.

  When print data obtained by combining the form image 28 of FIG. 3A with document data is once printed by the printer 3 and the printed paper is copied by another general-purpose copying machine or the like, the hidden character 33 having large dots is faithfully displayed. However, the background pattern 32 with small dots is not reproduced faithfully. Therefore, the area of the background pattern 32 is white, so that a copy image 29 as shown in FIG. 3B in which a hidden character 33 appears on the document image is obtained. Thereby, unauthorized copying can be suppressed. Note that what is actually printed on the paper is an image obtained by synthesizing the document image from the image storage unit 21 with the form image 28 in FIG. 3A by the synthesizing unit 31, but in FIG. For ease of explanation, the document image is not shown.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the background pattern used for the form image. In FIG. 3, a dot pattern is used as the background pattern 32. However, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a background pattern 32 having a diagonal pattern can be used. The background pattern 32 in FIGS. 4A and 4B can express digital data such that one is “0” and the other is “1”, and these are used to prohibit copying. Etc. can be embedded to control the printer 3.

(Operation of the first embodiment)
Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the user creates a document by operating the input unit 23 of the PC 2, the document data is stored in the image storage unit 21. After that, when the user operates the input unit 23 to select document data to be printed from the image storage unit 21, instructs the composition with the form image, and gives a print instruction, the control unit 24 responds to the user's composition instruction. Based on this, the form image generating unit 20 generates a form image, and the combining unit 22 combines the form image and the document data to generate PDL image data. The communication unit 25 transmits PDL image data to the printer 4 via the NW 3 under the control of the control unit 24.

  When the communication unit 40 of the printer 4 receives image data from the PC 2 via the NW 3, the control unit 41 stores the PDL image data in the image storage unit 42. The control unit 41 interprets (scans) the PDL data (step S1001), and determines whether or not the form image is superimposed on the document (with hidden printing) (step S1002).

  If the form image is not superimposed (step S1002: No), the control unit 41 sends the image data to the image forming unit 44A as it is. The conversion unit 410 of the image forming unit 44A converts the image data into bitmap data and outputs it to the gradation correction unit 441A. The tone correction unit 441A performs tone correction on the output of the conversion unit 410 based on TRC. The printer engine unit 412 prints the output data of the gradation correction unit 441A on a sheet by electrophotography (step S1007).

  If the form image is superimposed (step S1002: Yes), the control unit 41 further interprets (scans) the PDL data (step S1003) and determines whether an object (here, a figure) is included. Is determined (step S1004).

  If a graphic is included (step S1004: Yes), the control unit 41 corrects (decreases) the density by replacing the color designation value with another color designation value by the color designation value substitution unit 43 (step S1005). ). When the above processing is performed for all pages (step S1006), the control unit 41 sends the image data whose density has been corrected to the image forming unit 44A, and prints the image data on paper as described above (step S1007).

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the first embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(A) Since the density of the graphic portion of the document is changed, the hidden pattern in the filled area is not noticeable at the time of printing and is likely to be lifted at the time of copying.
(B) Since the density of the original with the form image added is not extremely high compared to the original, the original is not difficult to read.
(C) To reduce the density of the original, the amount of toner consumption is reduced, and the cost can be reduced and the load on the apparatus can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The PC 2 of the present embodiment is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Further, the printer 4 of this embodiment does not include the color designation value replacement unit 43 of the first embodiment, and the function of the gradation correction unit 441B is different from that of the first embodiment. The configuration is the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7A shows a TRC for a normal document on which a form image is not superimposed, and FIG. 7B shows a TRC for a document on which a form image is superimposed. The gradation correction unit 441B performs gradation correction using the TRC shown in FIG. 7A or 7B under the control of the control unit 41. For example, if the density value is “Grey 75”, 192, which is 75% of 256, is the input value. Therefore, in the case of an image in which the form image is not superimposed, as shown in FIG. The value is about 224, which is about 88% of 256. However, in the case of an image on which a form image is superimposed, the output value is about 165 and about 64 of 256, as shown in FIG. %. In the TRC of FIG. 7 (a), the halftone is output with a value slightly larger than the input value, but in the TRC of FIG. 7 (b), it is replaced with a color designation value having a low density. Also, the TRC shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B has, for example, three color components R, G, and B, respectively.

(Operation of Second Embodiment)
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. Similar to the first embodiment, when PDL image data is transmitted from the PC 2 to the printer 4, the image data is stored in the image storage unit 42 of the printer 4.

  The control unit 41 of the printer 3 interprets the PDL data, determines whether or not a form image is superimposed on the document, and sends the image data to the image forming unit 44B. The conversion unit 410 of the image forming unit 44B converts the image data into bitmap data and outputs it to the gradation correction unit 441B.

  When the form image is not superimposed on the document, the control unit 41 causes the tone correction unit 441B to perform tone correction using the TRC of FIG. If the form image is superimposed on the document and the object is included in the document, the control unit 41 causes the gradation correction unit 441B to perform gradation correction using the TRC of FIG. 7B. The printer engine unit 412 prints the output data of the gradation correction unit 441B on a sheet by an electrophotographic method.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the second embodiment described above, the following effects can be further obtained.
(A) Since the density of the original is changed, the hidden pattern is not conspicuous at the time of printing and is likely to be lifted at the time of copying.
(B) Since each color component is replaced with a different color designation value, even when a plurality of colors are used in the document, the hidden pattern is not conspicuous at the time of printing, and is likely to float at the time of copying.
(C) Gradation correction by the gradation correction unit can prevent deterioration in reproducibility due to response characteristics of the optical scanning device, development characteristics of the development unit, and the like.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an image processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the color designation value replacement unit 43 provided in the printer 4 in the first embodiment is provided in the PC 2, and the other configuration is the same as that in the first embodiment.

(Operation of the third embodiment)
Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. When the user creates a document by operating the input unit 23 of the PC 2, the document data is stored in the image storage unit 21. After that, when the user operates the input unit 23 to select document data to be printed from the image storage unit 21, instructs the composition with the form image, and gives a print instruction, the control unit 24 responds to the user's composition instruction. Based on this, the form image generating unit 20 generates a form image, and the combining unit 22 combines the form image and the document data to generate PDL image data.

  The control unit 24 interprets the PDL data of the synthesized image, and if an object (here, a graphic) is included, the color designation value replacement unit 43 replaces the color designation value of the graphic portion. To do. The communication unit 25 transmits PDL image data to the printer 4 via the NW 3 under the control of the control unit 24.

  When the communication unit 40 of the printer 4 receives image data from the PC 2 via the NW 3, the control unit 41 temporarily stores the PDL image data in the image storage unit 42, and then stores the image data in the image forming unit 44A. Send data. The conversion unit 410 of the image forming unit 44A converts the image data into bitmap data and outputs it to the gradation correction unit 441A. The tone correction unit 441A performs tone correction on the output of the conversion unit 410 based on TRC. The printer engine unit 412 prints the output data of the gradation correction unit 441A on a sheet by an electrophotographic method.

(Effect of the third embodiment)
According to the third embodiment, since an optimal form image is generated on the PC 2 side, a general-purpose printer can be used.

  Next, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  9A and 9B show changes in PDL data, where FIG. 9A shows PDL of a document having a figure, FIG. 9B shows PDL obtained by adding hidden characters to the document of FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9C shows density of the figure. The reduced PDL is shown. FIG. 10A shows an image of a document, and FIG. 10B shows a composite image of a form image and a document image.

  It is assumed that the document has a graphic portion 73 as shown in FIG. Further, the graphic portion 73 is expressed as “size (100 100 200 200) Gray 75” in the PDL as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the form image 70 includes a dot-like background pattern (shown by hatching in FIG. 11) 71 and a “prohibited copy” hidden character 72. The hidden character 72 is hardly visible in practice, but is drawn with emphasis in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9B, the hidden character 72 is expressed as “AddWatermark“ prohibited copy ”” in the PDL.

  When the density of the graphic part 73 is corrected from “Grey 75” to “Grey 50” and the form image and the original are synthesized, as shown in FIG. 72 is almost invisible, similar to the hidden character 72 that does not overlap the graphic portion 73. The hidden character 72 of “prohibited copying” is drawn with emphasis in FIG. 9B.

[Other embodiments]
In addition, this invention is not limited to said each embodiment and said Example, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of the invention. In addition, the constituent elements of the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  In each of the above embodiments, the color specification value is replaced after the document data and the form image are combined. However, the color specification value of the document data may be replaced and then combined with the form image.

  In each of the embodiments described above, a figure has been described as an object, but other objects such as photographs and illustrations may be used.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows an example of the form image produced | generated by the form image production | generation part of FIG. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the other example of the background pattern used for a form image. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the image processing system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of PC and the printer concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) shows a TRC for a document on which a form image is not superimposed, and (b) shows a TRC for a document on which a form image is superimposed. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the image processing system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. (A), (b), (c) is explanatory drawing which shows conversion of PDL in Example 1 of this invention. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing of form image superimposition of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a form image. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the conventional problem. (A), (b), (c) is a figure for demonstrating the conventional problem.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image processing system 2 Personal computer (PC)
3 Network (NW)
4 Printer 10 Image forming unit 20 Form image generating unit 21 Image storage unit 22 Composition unit 23 Input unit 24 Control unit 25 Communication unit 28 Form image 29 Copy image 32 Background pattern 33 Hidden character 40 Communication unit 41 Control unit 42 Image storage unit 43 Color designation replacement unit 44A, 44B Image forming unit 70 Form image 71 Background pattern 72 Hidden character 73 Graphic part 440 Conversion unit 441A, 441B Tone correction unit 442 Printer engine unit

Claims (8)

In an image processing program for synthesizing a form image consisting of a background pattern that is not reproduced at the time of copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced at the time of copying, and causing the computer to execute processing of the synthesized image,
A determination step of determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a figure or a photo;
An image processing program comprising a replacement step of replacing a color designation value of the object with another color designation value when the document data includes the object.   The image processing program according to claim 1, wherein the replacing step replaces a color designation value of the object with a color designation value having a low density.   The image processing program according to claim 1, wherein the replacing step replaces the color of the color designation value of the object with another color.   The image processing program according to claim 1, wherein the replacing step replaces each color component with a different color designation value. In an image processing method for synthesizing a form image composed of a background pattern that is not reproduced at the time of copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced at the time of copying, and processing the combined image with document data,
A determination step of determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a figure or a photo;
An image processing method comprising a replacement step of replacing the color designation value of the object with another color designation value when the document data includes the object. In a printing apparatus that processes a composite image in which a form image composed of a background pattern that is not reproduced during copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced during copying is combined with document data.
Determining means for determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a figure or a photograph;
A printing apparatus comprising: a color designation value replacement unit that replaces a color designation value of the object with another color designation value when the document data includes the object. In a printing apparatus that processes a composite image in which a form image composed of a background pattern that is not reproduced during copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced during copying is combined with document data.
Determining means for determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a figure or a photograph;
A printing apparatus, comprising: a gradation correction unit that corrects gradation of the object using a gradation conversion table when the document data includes the object. In a print instruction device that sends a composite image, which is a composite of a form image composed of a background pattern that is not reproduced at the time of copying and a hidden pattern that is reproduced at the time of copying, to the document data,
Determining means for determining whether or not the document data includes an object such as a figure or a photograph;
A print instruction apparatus comprising: a color specification value replacement unit that replaces a color specification value of the object with another color specification value when the document data includes the object.

Images