JP2008028706A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and sample sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a sample sheet that enable even a user who is not familiar with operations to form a desired image by imaging a finish and easily setting printing conditions exactly matching the image. <P>SOLUTION: On a sample sheet as a model for finishes of printing, a code (two-dimensional code etc.) on which printing conditions (printing parameters) of images are reflected is printed. The code is acquired by analyzing a scan image obtained by reading the sample sheet by a scanner (S40), and the code is decoded to acquire the printing parameters (S50). When a printing mode specified with the code is a CD/DVD printing mode (S70), it is shifted to the CD/DVD printing mode (S80), and an image selection picture for the CD/DVD printing mode different from an image selection picture for a normal printing mode is displayed (S120). The user is able to immediately select an image to be printed without performing a selecting operation to search for the image selection picture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a sample sheet having a function of setting printing conditions based on information read by a scanner.

As an image forming apparatus of this type, for example, in Patent Document 1, the format of a mode setting sheet is printed on paper, and items (printing range, paper type, interface) desired to be set on the mode setting sheet are marked in a mark sheet format. Thereafter, a configuration is disclosed in which a mode setting sheet is read by a scanner, the marked content is analyzed, and mode setting is performed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-112064 (paragraphs [0014] to [0017], FIG. 1)

  However, according to the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, although printing conditions can be set, for example, when performing photographic printing, it is difficult to image the finished photo before printing. For example, when requesting a photo from a photo store (DPE store), the customer can imagine the completion from a plurality of photo samples placed in the photo store, and tell the store clerk about the sample he likes. In this case, the customer does not need to convey detailed information such as photo paper, photo size, layout, etc. to the store clerk.

  However, when photo printing is performed at home using the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is no particular sample, it is difficult to imagine the result from the printing parameters such as the printing range and paper type, and there is no knowledge of the printing parameters to some extent. There was a problem that appropriate printing conditions could not be set. As a result, it is difficult to obtain a photographic print according to the image. For example, when the print result is different from the image, the print condition is reset, and printing is performed again.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a sample sheet that can form a desired image even if a user who is unfamiliar with the operation can easily image the finished image and set printing conditions according to the image. It is in.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus including a scanner and a display unit, and a scan image obtained by reading a sample image printed on a medium with the scanner is subjected to image analysis to indicate a print condition of the sample image Image analysis means for acquiring parameters, mode activation means for activating a print mode specified from the print parameters, and the activated print mode is selected from among a plurality of print modes in which an image selection screen is individually prepared. A display control unit that displays an image selection screen corresponding to the activated print mode on the display unit, and an image selected on the image selection screen displayed on the display unit. The gist of the invention is that the printing apparatus includes printing means for printing while reflecting the printing parameters. According to this, after confirming the completion with the sample image, the image can be printed as it is under the same printing conditions as the sample image, and the image selection screen of the applicable print mode is displayed on the display means. It is possible to immediately shift to an image selection operation without performing a selection operation for searching for a screen.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus provided with a scanner, wherein setting means for setting print parameters to be applied as printing conditions, image selection means for selecting an image to be printed, and printing the selected image as the print The gist of the present invention is to provide printing means for printing on a medium while reflecting the parameters and printing the printing parameters on the medium in a scanner-readable form. According to this, a print parameter can be acquired by reading a print parameter printed in a scanner-readable form with a scanner. For example, a desired image can be printed by automatically setting the same printing condition as that of an image printed in the past by scanning the past image.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the print parameter is obtained by performing image analysis on a scan image obtained by reading the print surface of the medium printed in a scanner-readable form with the scanner. It is preferable that the image processing apparatus further includes an analysis unit, and the printing unit prints the image selected by the image selection unit on a medium while reflecting the print parameters acquired by the image analysis unit. According to this, the print parameter can be acquired by performing image analysis on the scan image of the printing surface of the medium printed with the scanner readable form, and the selected image can be printed while reflecting the print parameter. In other words, the selected image can be printed by setting the same printing conditions as the printed material with a simple operation of causing the scanner to read the past printed material.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the scanner-readable form is a code image in which the print parameters are encoded. According to this, since the print parameter is printed in the form of a code image, the print parameter can be accurately acquired by decoding the code image read by the scanner.

  Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a margin detection unit that detects a margin area in a medium area in which the selected image is arranged in a layout specified by the printing parameters, and the code image is arranged in the margin area. An image compositing unit that generates a composite image by combining the code image and the image, and the printing unit prints the composite image on the medium to print the code image in the blank area. It is preferable to print. According to this, since the code image is printed in the blank area, it is easy to recognize the code image when it is read by the scanner, and it is easy to acquire the print parameters correctly.

  An image forming method in an image forming apparatus including a scanner and a display unit, wherein a scan image obtained by reading a sample image printed on a medium with the scanner is subjected to image analysis to indicate a print condition of the sample image An image analysis step for obtaining parameters, a mode activation step for activating a print mode specified from the print parameters, and the activated print mode is selected from among a plurality of print modes in which an image selection screen is individually prepared. A display control step for causing the display means to display an image selection screen corresponding to the activated print mode, and an image selected on the image selection screen displayed on the display means, And a printing step for printing while reflecting the printing parameters.

  An image forming method in an image forming apparatus including a scanner, wherein a setting step for setting a print parameter to be applied as a printing condition, an image selection step for selecting an image to be printed, and the printing of the selected image The present invention includes a printing step of printing on a medium while reflecting the parameters and printing the print parameters on the medium in a scanner-readable form.

  A sample sheet formed by printing a sample image on a medium and printed on the same side as the sample image so as to be readable by a scanner, and a code image reflecting the printing conditions of the sample image; When the sample sheet is set on the document table in a direction in which the scanner of the image forming apparatus can read the sample image, characters on the screen of the display unit of the image forming apparatus are arranged on the back surface opposite to the print surface of the sample image. And an operation procedure image in which the operation procedure is printed in a direction in which the same direction as that of the upper and lower sides is set up and down.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multifunction machine 11. The multifunction machine 11 includes a main body 12 and a cover 13. The lower portion of the main body 12 is a printer unit 14 and the upper portion is a scanner unit 15. A square plate-like shape is formed on the upper surface of the main body 12 with the cover 13 opened. A document table 16 in which transparent glass is incorporated is provided. On the front side of the main body 12, the operation panel 17 is in the upper stage, the paper discharge unit 18 is in the lower part, and a memory card slot (hereinafter simply referred to as “slot 20”) in which the memory card 19 can be inserted and removed in the right adjacent position of the paper discharge unit 18 ) Are provided. Further, a retractable guide 21 that can set a CD / DVD during label printing is provided between the paper discharge unit 18 and the operation panel 17.

  The multifunction machine 11 according to the present embodiment has a function capable of setting printing conditions by scanning a sample sheet 22 set as a document on the document table 16 in FIG. As will be described later, the sample sheet 22 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained by printing a sample of CD / DVD label printing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a monitor 25 (liquid crystal display) is disposed at the center in the width direction of the operation panel 17. The operation panel 17 also includes a power button 26, a setup button 27 for setting head cleaning, nozzle check, and the like, a stop button 28 for stopping the operation being performed, a start button 29 for starting printing / scanning, A mode selection button 30 for selecting a mode and a sample sheet button 31 are provided.

  The mode selection button 30 includes five operation buttons corresponding to five modes of “memory card”, “copy”, “scan”, “film”, and “fan print”. You can select one of them. Here, when a mode is selected with the mode selection button 30, a main screen (mode screen) corresponding to the selected mode is displayed on the monitor 25. By selecting an item in the main screen, a lower screen is displayed. Are sequentially displayed, and various selection operations and the like can be performed for each mode. Here, “Film” is a mode used when scanning a photographic film (negative film) taken with a camera (transparent scanning) to capture an image, and “Fan Print” is a combination of characters and frame images printed on the image. This mode uses a function for enjoying prints prepared in advance. The sample sheet button 31 is used to operate when scanning the sample sheet 22 described above. When this button is pressed, the sample sheet mode is set.

  The operation panel 17 also includes a selection button 33 having four arrow keys for up / down / left / right, an OK button 34 arranged at the center of the selection button 33 and pressed to validate the selection, and canceling the setting during operation. A button 35, a print number button 36 for setting the number of prints, a print setting button 37 for switching the display of the monitor 25 to a print setting screen, and a zoom / display switch button 38 are provided. The print number button 36 includes a plus button 36a for incrementing the number of prints and a minus button 36b for decrementing. The zoom / display switching button 38 is used for an operation for zooming an image printed on one layout surface (frame) on the monitor 25 and an operation for switching the screen between single image display and multi-image display. It is done.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the multifunction machine 11. The multifunction machine 11 includes a main board (not shown) that controls the overall control. On this main board, a CPU built-in ASIC (Application Specific IC) 41, a ROM 42, and RAMs 43 and 44 are mounted. The ASIC 41 includes a CPU 45, a scanner input circuit 46, an image processing circuit 47, a memory card input / output circuit 48, a head control unit 49, and a JPEG decompression circuit 50, which are connected to an internal bus 41a. The internal bus 41 a is connected to a ROM 42, a RAM 43, and an operation panel 17 that are externally attached to the ASIC 41. The ROM 42 stores a control program executed by the CPU 45 and the like. The RAM 43 temporarily stores image data and print data to be processed by executing the control program. The RAM 44 is connected to the scanner input circuit 46 and the image processing circuit 47, and has a plurality of buffers 44a, 44b, and 44c for temporarily storing image data and print data before and after the processing in each circuit 46 and 47. is doing.

The scanner unit 15 optically reads a document placed on the document table 16 and A / D-converts charges stored in a CCD (charge coupled device) 15a by an A / D conversion circuit 15b to perform a scanner input circuit. Output to 46. The scanner input circuit 46 temporarily stores each raster line data (RGB multi-tone image data) input from the scanner unit 15 in the buffer 44a under the control of the CPU 45, and then performs RGB data line-to-line correction processing, A resolution conversion process for converting the reading resolution [dpi] of the RGB data into a printing resolution [dpi] for printing by the printer unit 14 is performed, and the RGB data after these processes is sent to the image processing circuit 47.
The image processing circuit 47 takes in the image data subjected to the resolution conversion processing, performs known image processing such as color conversion, halftone processing, and microweave processing, and the processed image data is stored in the buffer 44c. Forward. Head drive data (print data) is generated based on the image data stored in the buffer 44c. The head control unit 49 drives the printer head 51 based on the head drive data under the control of the CPU 45 to control the presence / absence of ink droplet ejection and the amount of ink droplets ejected.
The memory card input / output circuit 48 functions as an interface circuit for the memory card 19 inserted in the slot 20. The memory card 19 stores an image file, for example, in JPEG format, taken by a digital camera (not shown). The JPEG decompression circuit 50 decompresses (decodes) the image file from the image file to RGB multi-gradation image data by performing a decoding process on the image file read from the memory card 19 under the control of the CPU 45. The image data is transferred to the image processing circuit 47 under the control of the CPU 45 and converted into print data by the image processing described above.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the hierarchical structure 52 of the selection screen displayed on the monitor 25 includes five modes “memory card”, “copy”, “scanner”, “film”, and “fan print” that can be selected with the mode selection button 30. Each has a total of six modes including a sample sheet mode set when the sample sheet button 31 is pressed, and a main screen (main selection screen). Although lower selection screens are prepared in the lower layers of the main screen of each mode, only the lower layers of the memory card mode are shown in FIG.

  The lower layer of the memory card mode is divided into a normal print mode and a CD / DVD print mode. When the CPU 45 detects the memory card 19, the CPU 45 displays a main selection screen for the memory card mode on the monitor 25, which can select the normal print mode or the CD / DVD print mode. In the normal print mode and the CD / DVD print mode, there are a print setting screen displayed when the print setting button 37 is pressed and an image selection screen for selecting an image to be printed from images taken from the memory card 19. Each is prepared separately. The image selection screen in the normal print mode is used for selecting an image to be printed on paper, and the image selection screen in the CD / DVD print mode is used for selecting an image to be printed on a CD / DVD label. .

  On the print setting screen, “paper type” (photo paper, plain paper, postcard, photo matte paper, etc.), “paper size” (A4 version, L version, postcard, etc.), “layout” (existence of edges, multiple side assignment) Etc.), “quality” (high speed, clean, etc.), “print setting writing”, etc., the options described in () prepared for each item can be set as print parameters. In the print setting screen in the CD / DVD mode, “media type” is prepared in addition to the above-described various print parameters. In “Media type”, media of “CD” and “DVD” can be selected. Note that the print parameters are managed as binary data.

  Here, the sample sheet mode is a mode that is activated when the sample sheet button 31 is pressed, and the scanner unit 15 uses the sample sheet shown in FIG. 1 as a trigger when the start button 29 is pressed in this mode activated state. In this mode, the same printing conditions as those of the sample image are automatically set based on information obtained by image analysis of the scanned image obtained by reading the image data 22.

  In FIG. 4, the item “print setting write” in the print setting screen is a function for generating a code image representing a print parameter and printing it on a medium together with a photo image. When “valid” is selected in this item, In addition, a print setting writing mode for writing the code image to the medium is set. Three types of “margin area”, “low density area”, and “back surface” are prepared as code code writing locations. The printed matter in which the code image is written is also a scan target when the printing conditions are automatically set in the sample sheet mode like the sample sheet 22. Note that image data of various selection screens displayed on the monitor 25 is stored in advance in a predetermined storage area of the ROM 42.

  FIG. 5 shows a sample sheet. FIG. 5A shows a sample image printing surface (front surface), and FIG. 5B shows a back surface. The sample sheet 22 is a sample for CD / DVD label printing, and is a photographic image printed on a medium (for example, cardboard) of the same size as the CD / DVD in a predetermined layout. In this example, twelve photographic images 54 are samples printed with a layout of “12 pages assigned”. In the sample sheet 22, a triangular reference mark 55 is printed at a corner portion of the triangular protrusion 22 a, and a code image 56 is printed at a position having a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the reference mark 55. The code image 56 is a two-dimensional code in which dots are two-dimensionally arranged. Of course, a one-dimensional code such as a barcode can also be used.

  5B, the sample sheet 22 placed with the sample image printing surface facing down on the document table 16 is set in a state where the reference mark 55 is aligned with the corner of the document table 16. Thus, an operation procedure image 57 in which the operation procedure is described with illustrations printed so that the same direction as the upper and lower direction of the characters on the screen of the monitor 25 is printed is printed. The operation procedure image 57 includes a description sentence 57a of each operation and an illustration 57b showing a part (for example, three) of each operation. Also, a part of the printing condition information 58 is printed as a character string such as “CD / DVD 12 page layout”. Also, since the arrow mark 59 is printed at the position on the back side corresponding to the reference mark 55 on the front side, the sample sheet 22 is correctly set if the arrow mark 59 is located at the corner of the document table 16. It can be confirmed that

  Next, an automatic setting print process for automatically setting a print condition by scanning the sample sheet 22 in the multifunction machine 11 and a print setting writing process for printing a code reflecting the print condition together with the print image on a medium will be described. . The automatic setting printing process is performed by the CPU 45 executing the automatic setting printing process routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. The print setting writing process is performed by the CPU 45 executing a print setting writing process routine shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, the automatic setting printing process will be described with reference to FIG. When the sample sheet button 31 is pressed, the CPU 45 executes an automatic setting print processing routine shown in FIG.
First, the monitor 25 displays a message “Set a sample sheet on the platen and press the start button” (sample sheet set request display) (S10). The user sets the sample sheet 22 so that the reference mark 55 is positioned at the corner of the document table 16 and then presses the start button 29. If the CPU 45 detects that the start button 29 has been pressed and determines that a scanning operation has been performed (YES in S20), the CPU 45 scans the sample sheet 22 (S30). At this time, the scanner unit 15 is driven, scanning is performed at a higher speed than the normal scanner function, and the image of the sample sheet 22 is read at a low resolution of black and white.

  The black and white low-resolution scan image is subjected to image analysis to obtain a code (S40). Specifically, first, the reference mark 55 is detected by a known method such as pattern matching, and a predetermined area in a predetermined positional relationship is cut out from the detected reference mark 55 to obtain the code image 56. Next, the code image 56 is decoded to obtain a numerical value (binary data) corresponding to the printing parameter and set as a printing condition (S50). In the case of the sample sheet 22 for CD / DVD label printing shown in FIG. 5, the print type includes media type “CD / DVD label”, paper type “CD / DVD label”, layout “CD-12 surface layout”, quality ( Binary data such as “print resolution” “beautiful (5760 dpi)” is acquired, and these print parameters are set.

  Next, the mode is specified from the print parameters (S60). For example, in the case of the sample sheet 22 in FIG. 5, the CD / DVD printing mode is specified from the printing parameters of the media type “CD / DVD label”, the paper type “CD / DVD label”, and the layout “CD-12 layout”. Is done. Then, it is determined whether or not the mode to be applied is the CD / DVD printing mode (S70). If the mode is the CD / DVD printing mode, the mode is shifted to the CD / DVD printing mode (S80). Thus, the CD / DVD printing mode is activated. On the other hand, when scanning is performed with another sample sheet using paper as a medium, it is determined that the print mode is not the CD / DVD print mode, so the mode is shifted to the normal print mode (S90). In this case, the normal printing mode is activated.

  When the applied printing mode is activated, it is determined whether or not the memory card 19 is connected (S100). If the memory card 19 is not connected, a memory card connection request is displayed on the monitor 25 (S110). ). If the memory card 19 is connected, the image is read from the memory card 19 and the image selection screen 60 is displayed on the monitor 25 (S120). That is, the image selection screen 60 in the CD / DVD printing mode shown in FIG. By the way, if the sample sheet is a rectangular sheet (A4, L plate, etc.) on which a photographic image is printed with a predetermined layout such as single-sided or multiple-sided layout, and the normal print mode is activated in step S90, In S210, an image selection screen for the normal print mode is displayed. As described above, the image selection screen corresponding to the applied print mode is displayed. When the sample sheet 22 of FIG. 5 is scanned, an image selection screen 60 for the CD / DVD printing mode is displayed, so that the user can immediately perform an image selection operation without performing a selection operation for searching the image selection screen. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, photographic images 61 are displayed one by one on the image selection screen 60, and the photographic image 61 can be switched to the next image or the previous image by operating the left and right arrow keys of the selection button 33. . In the upper right position in the image selection screen 60, the number-of-prints display section 62 is displayed superimposed on the photographic image 61. If the plus button 36a is operated to change the initial value “0” to “1”, A photographic image 61 is selected as a printing target. Also, in the upper left position in the image selection screen 60, print condition information 63 including a character string “CD / DVD printing 12-page layout” is displayed. On this image selection screen 60, the selection button 33 and the number-of-prints button 36 are operated to select the number of images allocated according to the layout, and then the start button 29 is pressed to start printing.

  The CPU 45 determines whether or not an image selection operation has been performed (S130). If the image selection operation has been performed, the selected image is determined as a print target (S140). The image selection operation here refers to an operation of the OK button 34 for confirming the selected image. Until the OK button 34 is operated by this image selection operation, processing for selecting individual images is performed. The photographic image 61 is switched by operating the left and right arrow keys, and the plus button 36a is operated to set the number of prints to “1”. By changing to “sheet”, the photographic image 61 is selected. Of course, the number of prints can be set to 2 or more. For example, when the number of prints is set to “12”, 12 identical photographic images 61 are allocated. The image selection screen is switched to an image selection screen for displaying 16 images in a 4 × 4 matrix arrangement, for example, by operating the zoom / display switching button 38, and the up / down / left / right arrow keys of the selection button 33 are pressed. It is also possible to select an image by operating.

  Then, after the image is confirmed, it is determined whether or not a print start operation has been performed, that is, whether or not the start button 29 has been pressed (S150). If the start button 29 has been operated, image print processing is performed according to the print parameters (S160). ). In this way, the photographic image 61 selected by the user on the image selection screen 60 is printed on the CD / DVD label set on the guide 21 of the multifunction machine 11 under the same printing conditions (same layout) as the sample sheet 22. In FIG. 8, the CPU 45 that executes the processes of S30 and S40 constitutes an image analysis means. The CPU 45 that executes the processes of S60 to S90 constitutes a mode activation unit. Further, the CPU 45 that executes the processes of S70 and S120 constitutes a display control means. Further, the CPU 45 that executes the processing of S160, the image processing circuit 47, the head control unit 49, the printer head 51, and the like constitute a printing unit.

  Next, the print setting writing process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. For example, after setting the print parameters on the print setting screen in the normal print mode, the user presses the start button 29 to start printing. In this example, since the code image is to be written on the medium, the item “print setting write” in the print setting screen is set to “valid” in advance.

  In this example, the selection button 33 is operated on the print setting screen to select a print parameter, and then the OK button 34 is pressed. The CPU 45 performs processing for receiving and setting the selected print parameter at that time. Means are configured. Of course, the setting means may be configured by the CPU 45 that automatically sets the printing conditions by scanning the sample sheet 22. Further, an image is selected on the image selection screen before printing is started. The processing performed by the CPU 45 at this time is different in that the trigger for displaying the image selection screen is an operation by the user, but S120 to S140 in FIG. The CPU 45 that executes this image selection process constitutes an image selection means.

  The CPU 45 determines whether or not a print start (start button 29) operation has been performed (S210). If a print start operation is performed, the CPU 45 determines whether or not the print setting write mode is selected (S220). If it is in the embedded mode, the printing parameter is acquired (S230). Then, the acquired print parameters are encoded to generate a code image 65 as shown in FIG. 7 (S240). Next, a margin area 68 (see FIG. 7A) of a predetermined size in which the code image / reference mark can be arranged in the paper area 66 is detected (S250). As a result of the detection, it is determined whether there is a blank area (S260). If there is a blank area, the code image / reference mark and the photographic image 67 are arranged so that the code image / reference mark is arranged in the blank area. A synthesized composite image is generated (S270). Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a composite image in which the code image 65 and the reference mark 69 are arranged in the blank area 68 in the paper area 66 is generated. Then, a printing process for printing the composite image on the medium is executed (S340).

  On the other hand, if no blank area is detected in step S260, a selection screen asking whether or not to select code superposition printing is displayed on the monitor 25. Then, it is determined whether or not the user has selected code superposition printing (S280). If code superposition printing is selected, the position of the low density area of the image is detected (S290). Here, in the present embodiment, an area having a pixel density that is low enough to identify the code image from the scanned image read by the scanner unit 15 is detected in the paper area (or print area). Specifically, a region having a predetermined size where the pixel density value is less than a preset threshold value is detected. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a low density area of a predetermined size or more where a code image / reference mark can be placed (S300). If there is a low density area of such size, the code image is included in the low density area. A composite image is generated by combining the code image / reference mark and the photographic image so that the reference mark is arranged (S310). Thus, as shown in FIG. 7B, the reference mark 69 is arranged in the corner area of the paper area 66, and the code image 65 is arranged in the low density area 70 surrounded by the broken line in FIG. . Then, the composite image printing process is executed (S340).

  On the other hand, if the code superposition printing is not selected (NO in S280) and if the low density area cannot be detected (NO in S300), whether or not the code back side printing is performed on the monitor 25 is determined. Display a selection screen to ask. Then, it is determined whether or not the user has selected code back side printing (S320). If code back side printing has been selected, a code back side printing flag is turned on (S330). Thereafter, an image printing process is executed (S340). After completion of the image printing process, if the flag is on, the CPU 45 displays on the monitor 25 the content “Please set the printed medium in the direction where the back side is the print side and then press the start button”. . The user presses the start button 29 after setting the paper face down. When the CPU 45 detects the pressing of the start button 29, as shown in FIG. 7C, the code image 65 and the reference mark 69 are arranged at the corner portion of the paper area 66 on the back side of the medium to generate image data for printing. . Then, this image (code image / reference mark) is printed on a medium. The CPU 45, the image processing circuit 47, the head control unit 49, the printer head 51, and the like that execute the processes of S220 to S340 constitute a printing unit that prints printing parameters on a medium in a scanner-readable form. Further, the CPU 45 that executes the process of S250 constitutes a margin detection means, and the CPU 45 that executes the process of S270 constitutes an image composition means.

  Thereafter, when another photographic image is to be printed under the same printing conditions (same layout) as the photographic image shown in FIG. 7, the printed matter (code written printed matter) printed in the processing routine of FIG. 9 is used as a sample sheet. . That is, the code written printed material is set on the document table 16 and the sample sheet button 31 is pressed, thereby causing the CPU 45 to execute the automatic setting printing process shown in FIG. As a result, print parameters obtained by decoding the code image obtained by analyzing the scanned image are automatically set, and an image selection screen corresponding to the print mode specified from the print parameter is displayed on the monitor 25. . Therefore, the user can select and print an image immediately without performing a selection operation for searching for an image selection screen. In the automatic setting printing process (FIG. 8) using the code written printed matter printed in the processing routine of FIG. 9 as a sample sheet, the CPU 45 that executes the processes of S40 and S50 constitutes an image analysis means.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The printing conditions can be set after confirming the completed image, and after the printing conditions are set, if the mode determined from the printing conditions is the CD / DVD printing mode, the image selection screen 60 for the mode is displayed. . Therefore, an image selection operation can be performed immediately without performing a selection operation for searching for the image selection screen 60 in the CD / DVD printing mode on the monitor 25. Therefore, a photographic image can be printed with the same printing conditions as the sample sheet 22 and with a simple operation.

  (2) Since the explanation of the operation procedure is printed on the back surface of the sample sheet 22, if the cover 13 is opened after the scan of the sample sheet 22 is finished, while looking at the operation procedure written on the back surface of the sample sheet 22, Image selection and print instruction operations can be performed.

  (3) Since the code image in which the set printing parameters are encoded is printed on the medium together with the image to be printed, it is easy if the scanner unit 15 reads the printed matter (code-written printed matter) printed by the multifunction machine 11 as a sample. The same printing conditions can be set.

  (4) The print mode specified from the print parameters set by causing the scanner unit 15 to read the sample sheet 22 or the code-written printed material is one of a plurality of print modes each having an image selection screen (for example, CD / When it is determined that the print mode is the DVD print mode, an image selection screen 60 corresponding to the specified print mode is displayed on the monitor 25. Therefore, the user can immediately perform printing by performing an image selection operation without performing a selection operation for searching for an image selection screen.

(5) Since the code image 65 is printed in the blank area 68, there is a high possibility that the code image 65 can be correctly recognized, and it becomes easy to prevent a printing condition setting error due to erroneous recognition.
(6) When there is no margin area, the code image 65 is printed in the low density area 70, so that a layout without a margin area can be dealt with.

  (7) When there is no area where the code image can be printed on the image printing surface, the code image 65 is printed on the back surface of the medium, so that the code image 65 can always be printed in a scanner-readable state.

In addition, embodiment of invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The following structures are also employable.
(Modification 1) The image analysis means is not limited to a configuration for performing image analysis for acquiring a code image from a scanned image. For example, it is possible to adopt a method of obtaining the print parameters including the layout by determining the position / area of the assigned image by analyzing the scanned image.

(Modification 2) A configuration in which the code image is printed only on the back surface from the beginning, a configuration in which the code image is printed only in the low density region, and a configuration in which only the margin region is printed can be adopted.
(Modification 3) It is preferable that the print parameter encoded as the code image includes at least a layout. For example, a configuration in which the user himself / herself sets some print parameters generally known to the user, such as the paper type and paper size, may be used.

  (Modification 4) As a print mode set by scanning a sample sheet, there may be a mode having no image selection screen. For example, a sample sheet is configured by incorporating information on a printing mode for printing all the pictures in the memory card into a code image. In this case, only when it is determined that the print mode specified by the CPU 45 is one of a plurality of print modes each having an image selection screen, the image selection screen corresponding to the print mode is displayed.

  (Modification 5) A plurality of print modes having an image selection screen are divided according to whether the medium is a paper system or a CD / DVD system, but includes a print mode of a medium system other than the paper system / CD / DVD system. May be. Further, it may be divided into a plurality of printing modes each having an image selection screen in the paper system.

  (Modification 6) In the above-described embodiment, the printer unit of the multifunction device is an ink jet printer. However, if the multifunction device includes a scanner, the method of the printer unit can be changed as appropriate. For example, the printer unit may be a laser printer, a dot impact printer, or the like.

Hereinafter, the technical idea grasped | ascertained from the said embodiment and each modification is described.
(1) The density detection means for detecting a low density region in a medium area in which the selected image is arranged in a layout specified by the print parameter, and the code image is the low density Image synthesizing means for generating a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the code image and the image so as to be arranged in the area, and the printing means prints the synthesized image on the medium to print the low density area The code image is printed on the screen. According to this, even when there is no blank area of a necessary size, the code image can be printed on the medium in a recognizable state.

  (2) In any one of claims 4, 5 and technical idea (1), after the printing means prints the image on the medium, the back surface opposite to the printing surface of the image becomes the printing surface. Display means for displaying that the medium is set in the direction, and the printing means prints the code image on the back surface of the medium when receiving an instruction to execute printing after the display by the display means; To do. According to this, since the code image is printed on the back surface opposite to the image printing surface of the medium, the code image can be printed on the medium in a recognizable state even without a blank area or a low density area.

  (3) In Claim 7, after the printing step, the print parameter is obtained by performing image analysis on a scanned image obtained by reading the print surface of the medium in a form in which the print parameter is readable by the scanner. An image analysis step for performing printing, and a printing step for printing the image selected in the image selection step on a medium while reflecting the print parameters acquired in the image analysis step.

(4) In Claim 7 or the technical idea (3), the scanner-readable form is a code image in which the print parameter is encoded.
(5) In the technical idea (4), the printing step includes a margin detection step for detecting a margin area in a medium area in which the selected image is arranged in a layout specified from the printing parameters, and the code image. An image synthesis step of generating a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the code image and the image so that the code image is arranged in the margin area, and printing the synthesized image on the medium to print the code in the margin area Print the image.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a multifunction machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the multifunction machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the multifunction machine. Schematic which shows the hierarchical structure of a selection screen. A sample sheet is shown, (a) is a top view of the surface, (b) is a top view of the back. The top view which shows an image selection screen. (A)-(c) Each top view which shows the synthesized image in which the code | cord | chord was written. 6 is a flowchart showing automatic setting printing processing. 10 is a flowchart showing print setting writing processing.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... MFP as image forming apparatus, 14 ... Printer unit, 15 ... Scanner unit as scanner, 16 ... Document table, 17 ... Operation panel, 19 ... Memory card (external storage medium), 20 ... Memory card slot, 22 ... sample sheet, 25 ... monitor as display means, 29 ... start button, 31 ... sample sheet button, 33 ... selection button constituting setting means and image selection means, 36 ... print number button constituting image selection means, 37 ... Print setting button, 45... Constituting a printing means and an image analysis means, a mode starting means, a display control means, a setting means, an image selection means, a CPU as a margin detection means, 47... An image processing circuit constituting a printing means, 49 ... head control unit constituting printing means, 51 ... printer head constituting printing means, 55 ... reference mark 56 ... Code image, 57 ... Operation procedure image, 57a ... Explanatory text constituting the operation procedure image, 57b ... Illustration constituting the operation procedure image, 60 ... Image selection screen, 65 ... Code image as a scanner-readable form , 66 ... a paper area as a medium area, 67 ... a photographic image, 68 ... a margin area, 69 ... a reference mark, and 70 ... a low density area.

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus including a scanner and a display unit,
Image analysis means for performing image analysis on a scanned image obtained by reading a sample image printed on a medium with the scanner and obtaining a print parameter indicating a printing condition of the sample image;
Mode activation means for activating a print mode identified from the print parameters;
When it is determined that the activated print mode is one of a plurality of print modes in which image selection screens are individually prepared, an image selection screen corresponding to the activated print mode is displayed on the display unit. Display control means to be displayed on,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit configured to print an image selected on the image selection screen displayed on the display unit while reflecting the print parameters. An image forming apparatus provided with a scanner,
Setting means for setting printing parameters to be applied as printing conditions;
Image selection means for selecting an image to be printed;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a printing unit configured to print the selected image on a medium while reflecting the print parameters, and print the print parameters on the medium in a scanner-readable form. The image processing apparatus further includes image analysis means for acquiring the print parameters by performing image analysis on a scan image obtained by reading the print surface of the medium printed in a scanner-readable form with the scanner.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit prints the image selected by the image selection unit on a medium while reflecting the print parameters acquired by the image analysis unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the scanner-readable form is a code image in which the print parameter is encoded.   A margin detecting means for detecting a margin area in a medium area in which the selected image is arranged in a layout specified by the print parameters, and the code image and the image so that the code image is arranged in the margin area. An image composition unit for generating a composite image obtained by combining the image and the print unit, wherein the printing unit prints the code image in the blank area by printing the composite image on the medium. 5. The image forming apparatus according to 4. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus comprising a scanner and a display means,
An image analysis step of performing image analysis of a scanned image obtained by reading a sample image printed on a medium with the scanner and obtaining a print parameter indicating a printing condition of the sample image;
A mode activation step of activating a print mode identified from the print parameters;
When it is determined that the activated print mode is one of a plurality of print modes in which image selection screens are individually prepared, an image selection screen corresponding to the activated print mode is displayed on the display unit. Display control steps to be displayed on
An image forming method in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a printing step of printing an image selected on the image selection screen displayed on the display unit while reflecting the print parameters. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus provided with a scanner,
A setting step for setting printing parameters to be applied as printing conditions;
An image selection step for selecting an image to be printed;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing step of printing the selected image on a medium while reflecting the printing parameters, and printing the printing parameters on the medium in a scanner-readable form. Method. A sample sheet composed of printed sample images printed on a medium,
A code image that is printed on the same side as the sample image so as to be readable by a scanner and that reflects the printing conditions of the sample image;
When the sample sheet is set on the document table in a direction in which the scanner of the image forming apparatus can read the sample image, characters on the screen of the display unit of the image forming apparatus are arranged on the back surface opposite to the print surface of the sample image. A sample sheet comprising: an operation procedure image printed with an operation procedure in a direction in which the same direction as the upper and lower sides is set up and down.

Images