JP2008011332A - Image processing apparatus and its control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus along with its control program, capable of compositing an image of such size as extends across two facing pages with other image, for arrangement on each page. <P>SOLUTION: In the image processing apparatus 1, a size analyzer 22D analyzes size of a data file corresponding to a target page. A data acquisition part 21D acquires a data file corresponding to the target page. An extraction processing part 23D extracts a portion corresponding to the target page if the data file has a spread-page size. A size analyzer 22F analyzes size of a form file corresponding to the target page. A data acquisition part 21F acquires a form file corresponding to the target page. An extraction processing part 23F extracts a portion corresponding to the target page if the form file has the spread page size. A composition processing part 25 composites the data file with the form file, to be an output image of the target page. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a control program therefor.

  In recent years, in order to more efficiently create a document in an office or the like, various functions such as insertion printing and booklet printing are required for an image processing apparatus such as a printer.

  A function called merge printing, for example, when printing a document that contains a mixture of content common to multiple copies (such as advertisement content and background) and content that differs between multiple copies (address, name, etc.), such as direct mail. In addition, an image file (hereinafter referred to as a form file) representing contents common to a plurality of copies and an image file (hereinafter referred to as a data file) representing different contents in each of the plurality of copies are separately created, This is a function that allows you to print each document without creating them one by one by combining them at the time of printing.

  On the other hand, a function called booklet printing is for obtaining a booklet such as a catalog. For example, when a booklet is printed, a plurality of pages are arranged on one side of each sheet so that a predetermined page order is obtained. This is a function for arranging and printing pages one by one. A booklet can be obtained by folding the printed paper in half.

Using such inset printing and booklet printing, for example, an image file such as a photograph taken with a digital camera is used as a data file, and an image file such as a background or title for decorating the photograph is combined as a form file. By printing, it is possible to easily create an album-like booklet with different backgrounds and titles but different photographs.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-236035

  By the way, in booklets such as catalogs and albums, it is common to place images across spread pages, but if you want to combine inset printing with booklet printing, page-wide data files and form files Since it is necessary to synthesize for each page, an image cannot be arranged across spread pages. Further, although it is conceivable to divide an image to be arranged across spread pages into a data file or a form file for each page in advance, there is a possibility that image continuity cannot be sufficiently ensured.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is capable of combining an image having a size across two pages having a spread relationship with another image and arranging the image on each page. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and its control program.

  In order to solve the above problem, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention has a position and size corresponding to one of the two pages from a first image having a size across two pages in a spread relationship. Extraction processing means for extracting one page portion, and composition processing means for combining a second image having a size corresponding to the one page with the one page portion.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the extraction processing unit may extract, from the first image, the other page portion having a position and size corresponding to the other page different from the one page of the two pages. The composition processing means extracts and synthesizes a third image having a size corresponding to the other page with the other page portion.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the two pages having the spread relationship are formed on separate recording sheets.

  Next, the control program of the image processing apparatus of the present invention is configured so that one of positions and sizes corresponding to one of the two pages from the first image having a size across two pages in a spread relationship. An extraction process for extracting a page portion; and a synthesis process for synthesizing a second image having a size corresponding to the one page with the one page portion.

  According to the present invention, two images having different sizes can be synthesized. In other words, even an image having a size that spans two pages in a spread relationship can be combined with another image having a different size and placed on each page. In addition, the continuity of images arranged across two pages having a spread relationship can be improved.

  An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The configuration of the image processing apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image processing apparatus 1. The print processing apparatus 1 is configured as a printer controller, generates image data to be printed based on a print command received from a personal computer (PC) 100, and outputs the image data to the printer 200. The print processing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 2, a storage unit 3, a communication unit 4, and a printer interface 5.

  The control unit 2 is configured as a computer mainly including a CPU, and includes a ROM that stores programs and data necessary for the operation of the CPU, a RAM that is a work area of the CPU, and the like.

  The storage unit 3 is composed of a hard disk or the like. In the storage unit 3, a database storing a form file to be described later is constructed. Note that this database may be provided in the PC 100 or another device, and files may be supplied from there.

  The communication unit 4 connects to a network and controls communication. In addition, a PC 100 is connected to this network, and communication with the print processing apparatus 1 is possible. The PC 100 outputs a print command to the print processing apparatus 1 and supplies a data file to be described later.

  The printer interface 5 is connected to the printer 200 and controls communication. When the printer 200 receives the output image generated by the print processing apparatus 1, the printer 200 prints the output image on paper.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the operation of the image processing apparatus 1. The control unit 2 functionally includes a print setting unit 10, an insertion print processing unit 20, a booklet print processing unit 30, and a print command unit 40. These functional units are realized by software operations of the control unit 2.

  The print setting unit 10 receives the information and operates the merge print processing unit 20 when “merge print” is set in the user interface (UI) for print settings displayed on the display screen of the PC 100. . In this UI, it is also possible to select which form file to use for merge printing. Further, when “booklet printing” is set in this UI, the print setting unit 10 receives the information and operates the booklet print processing unit 30.

  The insertion printing processing unit 20 is a functional unit that realizes insertion printing. In other words, the insertion print processing unit 20 is a form file that is an image file that represents content common to a plurality of copies (background, title, etc.), and an image file that represents different content (photographs, etc.) for each of the multiple copies. The data file is combined and printed by the printer 200. Here, the form file is stored in the storage unit 3 and the data file is held by the PC 100.

  The insertion printing processing unit 20 includes a data acquisition unit 21D, a size analysis unit 22D, an extraction processing unit 23D, a form acquisition unit 21F, a size analysis unit 22F, an extraction processing unit 23F, a composition processing unit 25, Have

  The data acquisition unit 21D acquires a data file generated by the PC 100. Specifically, the acquisition of the data file is performed by spooling a plurality of data files into the storage unit 3 or the RAM and taking out a desired one from them. In addition, the form acquisition unit 21F acquires the selected form file from the storage unit 3. Here, the data acquisition unit 21D and the form acquisition unit 21F respectively acquire a data file and a form file corresponding to the target page set by the printing order determination unit 31 of the booklet print processing unit 30 described later.

  The size analysis unit 22D analyzes the size of the data file. Here, it is determined whether the data file has a page size or a spread page size. The spread page size is the size of two page sizes. For example, when the page size is A4 size, the spread page size is A3 size. The size analysis may be performed on the data file acquired by the data acquisition unit 21D, or may be performed on a predetermined data file spooled in the storage unit 3. Similarly, the size analysis unit 22F analyzes the size of the form file. Note that it may be determined whether the page size is the spread page size by comparing the sizes of the data file and the form file.

  When the size analysis unit 22D determines that the data file has the spread page size, the extraction processing unit 23D extracts the page portion corresponding to the target page from the data file. Similarly, the extraction processing unit 23F extracts a page portion corresponding to the target page from the form file when the size analysis unit 22F determines that the form file has the spread page size.

  The composition processing unit 25 includes the page portion of the data file acquired by the data acquisition unit 21D or the data file extracted by the extraction processing unit 23D, and the form file acquired by the form acquisition unit 21F or the form file extracted by the extraction processing unit 23F. The page portion is combined with the image of the target page. Then, the synthesis processing unit 25 outputs the synthesized image to the print command unit 40. Thereafter, the print command unit 40 transmits a print command to the printer 200 so as to print the synthesized image on a recording sheet.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a synthesis example when the form file has a spread page size. In this figure, when the data file has a page size (A4 size) and the form file has a spread page size (A3 size), these files are included in the A3 size output range (paper range). In the example shown in FIG. The operation of the insertion print processing unit 20 in this case will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of this operation.

  First, when the target page is the left page, the size analysis unit 22F analyzes the size of the form file corresponding to the left page (S1). Here, since the form file has a spread page size (A3 size) (S2: YES), the data acquisition unit 21D acquires the form file corresponding to the left page (S4), and the extraction processing unit 23F acquires the form. Extract the part corresponding to the left page from the file. On the other hand, the size analysis unit 22D analyzes the size of the data file corresponding to the left page (S1). Here, since the data file has a page size (A4 size), the data acquisition unit 21D only acquires the data file corresponding to the left page (S4), and the extraction processing unit 23D does not perform the extraction process. Then, the composition processing unit 25 synthesizes the data file and the left page portion extracted from the form file to obtain an output image of the left page.

  Next, when the target page is the right page, the size analysis unit 22F analyzes the size of the form file corresponding to the right page (S1). Here, since the form file has a spread page size (A3 size) (S2: YES), the data acquisition unit 21D acquires the form file corresponding to the right page (S4), and the extraction processing unit 23F acquires the form. Extract the part corresponding to the right page from the file. On the other hand, the size analysis unit 22D analyzes the size of the data file corresponding to the right page (S1). Here, since the data file has a page size (A4 size), the data acquisition unit 21D only acquires the data file corresponding to the right page (S4), and the extraction processing unit 23D does not perform the extraction process. Then, the composition processing unit 25 synthesizes the data file and the right page portion extracted from the form file to obtain an output image of the right page. This form file is scheduled to be arranged across the left page and the right page in a spread relationship, and is used in common for both the synthesis for the left page and the synthesis for the right page.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the booklet print processing unit 30 will be described. The booklet print processing unit 30 is a functional unit that realizes booklet printing. In other words, the booklet print processing unit 30 includes a print order determining unit 31, and a plurality of pages (for example, A4 size) are transferred to respective sheets (for example, A4 size) so that a predetermined page order is obtained when the booklet is processed. Two pages are arranged on one side with respect to (A3 size) and printed by the printer 200 (see the lower part of FIG. 5).

  The printing order determining unit 31 acquires the number of pages of the data file or form file, and determines the order in which the pages are arranged on the paper based on the number of pages. Then, the printing order determination unit 31 sequentially sets target pages to be combined in the insertion printing processing unit 20 based on the determined page arrangement order.

  Hereinafter, an operation performed by the insertion print processing unit 20 and the booklet print processing unit 30 in cooperation with each other will be described in detail with an example. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of combining a data file and a form file when printing a booklet. This figure shows an example of obtaining an A4 size booklet in which A3 size paper is folded in half. In addition, the data file and the form file both have a total number of 8 pages, among which the 2-3 pages, 4-5 pages, and 6-7 pages of the form file are spread page sizes (A3 size). Is the page size (A4 size).

  First, when the printing order determination unit 31 of the booklet printing processing unit 30 acquires that the total number of pages of the data file and the form file is 8, these pages are displayed when the printed paper is turned into a booklet. The arrangement of pages on each sheet is determined so as to be arranged in order. Specifically, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 5, for the first sheet, there are 8 pages on the front left page, 1 page on the front right page, 2 pages on the back left page, 7 pages on the right page, for the second sheet, 6 pages on the left front page, 3 pages on the front right page, 4 pages on the back left page, 5 pages on the back right page Place. A booklet in which pages 1 to 8 are arranged in order can be obtained by stacking the printed sheets in this order and folding them in half.

  Here, of the two pages that are adjacent to each other as a two-page spread in the case of a booklet, the pages 2-3 and 6-7 are printed on different sheets. That is, page 2 is printed on the back left page of the first sheet, page 3 is printed on the front right page of the second sheet, page 6 is printed on the front left page of the second sheet, page 7 is 1 It is printed on the back right page of the first sheet.

  Next, the printing order determination unit 31 is a target for the insertion print processing unit 20 to be combined so that the data file and the form file are combined for each page whose arrangement on the sheet is determined. Set the target page sequentially. Here, the order of setting the target page is, for example, the front left page, the front right page, the back left page, the back right page, the front left page, the front right page, and the back side of the second sheet. The order can be left page, back right page.

  Then, the insertion print processing unit 20 performs a process of combining the data file and the form file with respect to the set target page. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of this process. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected about the step which overlaps with the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the printing order determination unit 31 sets a target page (S31), the size analysis units 22D and 22F respectively analyze the sizes of the data file and the form file corresponding to the target page (S1). Here, when both the data file and the form file have the page size (A4 size) (S2: NO), no extraction process is performed on the acquired data file and form file (S3). In the example of FIG. 5, since the data file and the form file are both page sizes when the target pages are 1 page and 8 pages, in this case, the data acquisition unit 21D and the form acquisition unit 21F correspond to the target pages. Only the data file and the form file are acquired, and the extraction processing units 23D and 23F do not perform the extraction process.

  On the other hand, when the data file and the form file have a spread size (A3 size) (S2: YES), an extraction process is performed on the obtained data file and form file having a spread size (S4, S5). . In the example of FIG. 5, the form file has a spread size when the target page is 2 pages to 7 pages. In this case, the form acquisition unit 21F acquires a form file of the spread size corresponding to the target page, The extraction processing unit 23F extracts the page portion corresponding to the target page from the spread-size form file. Since the data file has a page size, the data acquisition unit 21D only acquires the data file corresponding to the target page, and the extraction processing unit 23D does not perform the extraction process.

  Next, the composition processing unit 25 synthesizes the data file and the form file to obtain an output image to the target page (S6). In the example of FIG. 5, when the target pages are 1 page and 8 pages, the synthesis processing unit 25 synthesizes the data file and the form file. On the other hand, when the target page is 2 pages to 7 pages, the synthesis processing unit 25 The data file and the page portion extracted from the form file are synthesized.

  The print order determining unit 31 sets the next page as a new target page until the file composition for the last page (in the above example, the back right page of the second sheet) is completed (S31). ), The above-described series of processing is repeated (S32). When the synthesis of the data file and the form file is completed for all pages, the print command unit 40 transmits a print command to the printer 200 so as to print these images on paper.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of combining a data file and a form file on the back side of the first sheet. On the back side of the first sheet, since the left page is 2 pages and the right page is 7 pages, if the target page is 2 pages, 2 pages of the data file are acquired and 2-3 of the form file As the page is acquired, the portion on the second page is extracted, and the two are combined to form an output image for the back left page of the first sheet. Next, when the target page is set to 7 pages, 7 pages of the data file are acquired, 6-7 pages of the form file are acquired, and the 7-page side portion is extracted, and both are combined to form one sheet. The output image is to the right back page of the eye paper. The composition is performed in the same manner on the front and back surfaces of the second sheet.

  Here, the form files of pages 2-3, 4-5, and 6-7, which are spread page sizes (A3 size), for each page of two pages that are adjacent as spreads when a booklet is used. Commonly used. That is, when the target page is set to one page, the page portion corresponding to the one page is extracted and used for composition. When the target page is set to the other page, the other page is set. The page portion corresponding to is extracted and used for composition.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a functional block diagram showing operation | movement of an image processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a synthesis | combination of a data file and a form file. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an insertion print processing unit in the image processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a synthesis | combination of the data file and form file in the case of printing a booklet. It is principal part explanatory drawing of FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of an insertion print processing unit and a booklet print processing unit in the image processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print processing apparatus, 2 Control part, 3 Storage part, 4 Communication part, 5 Printer interface, 10 Print setting part, 20 Insertion printing process part, 21D Data acquisition part, 22D Size analysis part, 23D Extraction process part, 21F Form acquisition Section, 22F size analysis section, 23F extraction processing section, 25 composition processing section, 30 booklet print processing section, 31 print order determination section, 40 print command, 100 PC, 200 printer.

Claims (4)

An extraction processing means for extracting one page portion of a position and size corresponding to one of the two pages from a first image having a size across two pages in a spread relationship;
Synthesis processing means for synthesizing a second image having a size corresponding to the one page with the one page portion;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The extraction processing means extracts, from the first image, the other page portion having a position and size corresponding to the other page different from the one of the two pages,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the composition processing unit synthesizes a third image having a size corresponding to the other page with the other page portion. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the two pages in the spread relationship is formed on a separate recording sheet. An extraction process for extracting one page portion of a position and size corresponding to one of the two pages from the first image having a size across two pages in a spread relationship;
A composition process for composing a second image having a size corresponding to the one page with the one page portion;
A control program for an image processing apparatus.

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