JP2008219561A - Character information processor, character information processing program and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character information processor, a character information processing program and an image forming apparatus capable of enhancing the visibility of half-tone characters with a small font size. <P>SOLUTION: The character information processor is provided with a storage part 43 which stores character information 432 including a character code 434, a font size 435 and color information 436, a print data generation part 41 which generates print data by resetting the color information 436 so that the brightness of the character may be made lower as the font size 435 is smaller and a communication I/F part 44 which outputs the print data generated by the print data generation part 41 to a printer 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a character information processing apparatus, a character information processing program, and an image forming apparatus that convert character data representing characters by character information including a character code and a font size into print data for image formation.

Conventionally, when forming an image of a line such as a line graph or a table border, there is a disadvantage that the visibility of the image is deteriorated if the line is thin. Therefore, in the print data to be imaged, the line and the width of the line are detected, and when the line width is thinner than a predetermined value, the density of the line is increased to improve the line visibility. An image processing apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-130439

  By the way, when characters are formed in halftone images, there is a disadvantage that the visibility decreases as the font size of the characters decreases. However, since the character is not a line, the technique described in Patent Document 1 cannot be applied, and the visibility of a halftone character having a small font size cannot be improved. Moreover, even if the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied by treating the side of the character as a line drawing, it cannot be applied to points or splashes other than the side of the character, and the visibility of the character is sufficiently improved. It is not possible. Further, since the size of the font size of the character does not necessarily correspond to the size of the line width, even if the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied to the character, the visibility of halftone characters with a small font size is sufficiently improved. I can't let you.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a character information processing apparatus, a character information processing program, and an image forming apparatus capable of improving the visibility of halftone characters having a small font size. The purpose is to provide.

  A character information processing apparatus according to the present invention converts character data representing characters by character information including a character code, a font size, and color information representing a color into print data for image formation by the image forming apparatus. An information processing apparatus, based on a storage unit that stores the character information and the character information stored in the storage unit, so that the lightness of the character represented by the character information decreases as the font size decreases. In addition, by setting color information of the character information, a print data generation unit that generates the print data, and a print data output unit that outputs the print data generated by the print data generation unit to the image forming apparatus With.

  According to this configuration, based on the character information stored in the storage unit by the print data generation unit, the smaller the font size, that is, the lower the visibility, the lower the brightness of the character represented by the character information. Thus, the color information of the character is set to generate print data, and the print data is output to the image forming apparatus by the print data output unit. As a result, the smaller the font size and the lower the visibility, the lower the brightness and the visibility, so that the visibility of halftone characters with a small font size can be improved.

  The color information represents a color of the character by a density value indicating a density for each of a plurality of color components included in the color of the character, and the print data generation unit is stored in the storage unit. If the font size of the character information is smaller than the reference font size set in advance, the color component having the highest density in the color information of the character information is set as the representative color component, and other color components excluding the representative color component It is preferable to change at least one of the density values so that the density becomes higher.

  According to this configuration, when the font size of the character information stored in the storage unit is smaller than the preset reference font size and the visibility may be low by the print data generation unit, the color information of the character information The color component having the darkest color density is used as the representative color component, and print data is generated in which at least one of the other color components excluding the representative color component is changed so that the density is high. In this case, the density value of a color component different from the darkest color component of the character whose font size is smaller than the reference font size is changed so as to increase the density, thereby reducing the brightness of the character. Can do.

  The color information represents a color of the character by a density value indicating a density for each of a plurality of color components included in the color of the character, and the print data generation unit is stored in the storage unit. The density of the darkest color component with respect to the sum of the density values of the color components other than the darkest color component in the color information of the character information is smaller than the preset reference font size. When the value ratio exceeds a preset determination threshold, the color component having the highest density in the color information of the character information is set as the representative color component, and at least one of the other color components excluding the representative color component The density value may be changed so as to increase the density.

  According to this configuration, the font size of the character information stored in the storage unit is smaller than the preset reference font size by the print data generation unit, and other than the darkest color component in the color information of the character information. If the ratio of the density value of the darkest color component to the sum of the density values of the color components exceeds a preset determination threshold value, that is, if the color component is considered to have a large bias, the color information of the character information The color component having the highest density is set as the representative color component, and at least one density value of the other color components excluding the representative color component is changed so that the density becomes higher. In this case, in a character whose font size is smaller than the reference font size and may have low visibility, the brightness of the character is changed by changing the density of the color component different from the color component having the highest density. Can be reduced.

  The color information includes C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) as the plurality of color components, and the print data generation unit is a font of character information stored in the storage unit If the size is smaller than a preset reference font size and the representative color component is C (cyan), the density value of M (magenta) is changed so as to increase the density, and the representative color If the component is M (magenta), the density value of Y (yellow) is changed so that the density is high, and if the representative color component is Y (yellow), the density value of C (cyan) is high. It is preferable to change it.

  According to this configuration, when the font size is smaller than the reference font size and the visibility may be low, if the color component is biased to C (cyan), the density value of M (magenta) changes so as to be dark. If the color component is biased toward M (magenta), the density value of Y (yellow) is changed so as to become deeper and closer to R (red), and the color component is changed to Y (yellow). If it is biased toward (yellow), the density value of C (cyan) is changed so as to become deeper and closer to G (green), thereby reducing the unnaturalness of the color change and reducing the brightness. The visibility of characters can be improved.

  The color information includes C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) as color components included in the color of the character, and is based on a density value indicating the density of each color component. Represents the color of the character, and when the font size of the character information stored in the storage unit is smaller than a preset reference font size, the print data generation unit uses the color information of the character information. The density value of K (black) may be changed so as to increase the density.

  According to this configuration, when the font size is smaller than the reference font size and the visibility may be low, the density value of K (black) in the color information of the character information is increased by the print data generation unit. To be changed. Then, since K (black) is an achromatic color, it is possible to improve the visibility of characters by reducing the lightness while reducing the unnaturalness of color change.

  In addition, the character information processing program according to the present invention converts character data representing characters by character information including a character code, font size, and color information representing color into print data for image formation by an image forming apparatus. A character information processing program for causing a computer to execute the processing, and based on the storage means for storing the character information and the character information stored in the storage means, the smaller the font size, the more represented by the character information. By setting color information of the character information so as to lower the brightness of the character to be printed, the print data generating means for generating the print data, and the print data generated by the print data generating means The computer is caused to function as print data output means for outputting to the apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention converts character data representing characters by character information including a character code, font size, and color information representing a color into print data for image formation, and converts the character data into the print data. An image forming apparatus that forms an image based on a storage unit that stores the character information, and based on the character information stored in the storage unit, the smaller the font size, the more the character represented by the character information. By setting the color information of the character information so as to lower the brightness, the print data generation unit that generates the print data, and the image formation that performs image formation based on the print data generated by the print data generation unit A part.

  According to this configuration, as the font size is smaller and the visibility is lower, the lightness is lowered and the visibility is improved. Therefore, the visibility of a halftone character having a small font size can be improved.

  In the character information processing apparatus, the character information processing program, and the image forming apparatus configured as described above, a character with a smaller font size and lower visibility has lower brightness and improved visibility. Visibility of tone characters can be improved.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in each figure shows that it is the same structure, The description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a personal computer that is an example of a character information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a printer 3 via a network 2 so that data can be transmitted and received.

  A personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 4, a display 5, a keyboard 6, and a mouse 7.

  The main unit 4 is a storage configured by a storage device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes predetermined arithmetic processing, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), for example. A unit 43, a communication I / F unit 44 (print data output unit), and peripheral circuits thereof are configured. The storage unit 43 stores a character information processing program 431, an operating system and other programs, and character information 432. The character information processing program 431 is configured as a so-called printer driver, for example. The communication I / F unit 44 is an interface circuit such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  The main body unit 4 functions as the print data generation unit 41 by executing the character information processing program 431 stored in the storage unit 43 by the CPU.

  The character information 432 is document data generated by executing a document creation program such as a word processor in the main unit 4. The character information 432 includes, for example, a character code 434 of a character constituting the document, a font size 435, and color information 436. The color information 436 includes a density value Y indicating the density of the Y (yellow) component, a density value M indicating the density of the M (magenta) component, and a density of the C (cyan) component to represent the color of the character. A density value C indicating the density and a density value K indicating the density of the K (black) component are included. The density values Y, M, C, and K represent the density of each color component in a range of, for example, 8 bits from 00h to FFh (hexadecimal display), and the density values Y, M, C, and K increase as the values increase. It shows a high density. In the following, hexadecimal numbers are denoted with “h”.

  Based on the character information 432 stored in the storage unit 43, the print data generation unit 41 sets the color of the character information 432 so that the lightness of the character represented by the character information 432 decreases as the font size decreases. By resetting the information 432, print data to be output to the printer 3 is generated.

  Next, the operation of the personal computer 1 configured as described above will be described. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the personal computer 1 shown in FIG. First, the print data generation unit 41 reads character information 432 to be printed from the storage unit 43 (step S1).

  Then, the print data generation unit 41 compares the font size 435 of the character information 432 with a preset reference font size Z (step S2), and if the font size 435 is greater than or equal to the reference font size Z (step S2). YES), since there is a high possibility that good visibility will be obtained, the print data generation unit 41 generates print data using the character information 432 without changing the color information 436 (step S3). In order to form an image with the image forming apparatus, the process proceeds to step S15.

  On the other hand, if the font size 435 is not less than the reference font size Z (NO in step S2), the character may be small and the visibility may be deteriorated. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S4 to improve the visibility. In this case, as the reference font size Z, for example, a font size that is difficult to see depending on the color of characters is set in advance.

  Note that when reduced-enlarged printing or 2-in-1 setting for forming an image for two pages on one sheet is set, the font size obtained by multiplying the font size 435 by the magnification of the image is set to the font size 435. Alternatively, the process of step S2 may be performed. As a result, when reduced printing or 2in1 is set, the possibility that the visibility is reduced due to the reduced character is reduced.

  In step S4, the print data generation unit 41 sets the maximum density value among the density values Y, M, C, and K of the character information 432 as the maximum density value Dmax (step S4), and the density of the character information 432. Among the values Y, M, C, and K, the total value Dsum of the remaining density values excluding the highest density value is calculated (step S5).

  Then, the print data generation unit 41 compares the preset determination threshold value Ty with (Dmax / Dsum) (step S6). If (Dmax / Dsum) is equal to or less than the determination threshold value Ty, the color information 436 is the color. While it is determined that the component bias is small and the process proceeds to step S14, if (Dmax / Dsum) exceeds the determination threshold value Ty, the color information 436 is determined to be large and the process proceeds to step S7.

  If the color component bias is small, the density value K (black) is increased to decrease the lightness of the character indicated by the color information 436 (step S14), so that the visibility of the character is not changed unnaturally. Can be improved. However, if the color component has a large bias, when the density value K (black) is increased and the brightness of the character indicated by the color information 436 is decreased, the color of the character may change unnaturally. Therefore, when the color component bias is large, the process of step S7 and subsequent steps improves the character visibility while reducing the possibility of unnaturally changing the color of the character. In this case, the determination threshold Ty is a color component bias that does not unnaturally change the color of the character when, for example, the density value K (black) is increased to decrease the lightness of the character indicated by the color information 436. A limit value of (Dmax / Dsum), for example, 0.5 (50%) is preset.

  In step S <b> 7, the print data generation unit 41 selects the density value Y, M, C, and K of the character information 432 having the maximum density value as the representative color component. Next, when the representative color component is confirmed by the print data generation unit 41 and the representative color component is C (cyan) (YES in step S8), the print data generation unit 41 sets the density value M in advance. Print data is generated based on the character information 432 obtained by adding the addition value Ds (step S9), and the process proceeds to step S15.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of steps S8 to S13. In step S8, when the representative color component is C (cyan) (YES in step S8), the character color indicated by the color information 436 is biased to C (cyan). Therefore, when the density value M is increased by adding, for example, the addition value Ds to the density value M (step S9), the character color approaches B (blue) and the brightness decreases. In this way, when the color is changed so that C (cyan) approaches B (blue), the unnaturalness of the color change is reduced, and the lightness is lowered to improve the visibility of the characters. be able to. As the addition value Ds, a density value that can improve the visibility, for example, “3Fh” is set in advance.

  Next, when the representative color component is not C (cyan) (NO in step S8) but M (magenta) (YES in step S10), the print data generation unit 41 adds the added value Ds to the density value Y. Print data is generated based on the character information 432 obtained by the addition (step S11), and the process proceeds to step S15. In this case, since the color is changed so that the density of Y (yellow) is increased and M (magenta) approaches R (red), the brightness is lowered while reducing the unnaturalness of the color change. Character visibility can be improved.

  Next, when the representative color component is not M (magenta) (NO in step S10) but Y (yellow) (YES in step S12), the print data generation unit 41 adds the added value Ds to the density value C. Print data is generated based on the character information 432 obtained by the addition (step S13), and the process proceeds to step S15. In this case, since the color is changed so that the density of C (cyan) is increased and Y (yellow) approaches G (green), the brightness is lowered while reducing the unnaturalness of the color change. Character visibility can be improved.

  For example, when the density value Y is “70h”, the density value M is “00h”, the density value C is “00h”, and the density value K is “00h”, that is, the character color is Y (yellow). In this case, the density value C is “00h” and the added value Ds “3Fh” is added to set the density value C to “3Fh”. As a result, the brightness is lowered while Y (yellow) is brought close to G (green). The visibility of characters can be improved.

  Next, if the representative color component is not C (cyan), M (magenta), or Y (yellow) (NO in step S12), the representative color component is K (black), so the print data generation unit 41 Then, print data is generated based on the character information 432 obtained by adding the addition value Ds to the density value K (step S14), and the process proceeds to step S15. In step S14, when the representative color component is K (black), the color component bias is small. Therefore, increasing the density value K (black) reduces the lightness while reducing the unnaturalness of the color change. Character visibility can be improved.

  Next, in step S15, the print data from the print data generation unit 41 that has improved the visibility of the characters by reducing the brightness while reducing the unnaturalness of the color change by the processing of steps S1 to S15. In response to the control signal, it is transmitted to the printer 3 by the communication I / F unit 44 (step S15). As a result, the printer 3 can form an image of characters with reduced brightness and improved visibility while reducing unnatural color change.

  If the process of steps S4 to S13 is not performed and the font size 435 does not satisfy the reference font size Z (NO in step S2), the print data generation unit 41 proceeds to step S14 and adds to the density value K. Print data may be generated based on the character information 432 obtained by adding the value Ds. The density value K (black) is an achromatic color, and when the density value K (black) is increased to lower the brightness, the brightness is reduced while reducing the unnaturalness of the color change, thereby improving visibility. It becomes easy to improve. In this case, the density value K (black) is not necessarily increased. Since the lightness of the character decreases to some extent even when any color component is increased, an improvement in visibility can be expected.

  In addition, the processing of steps S4 to S6 is not performed, and the step having the maximum density value among the density values Y, M, C, and K is used as the representative color component in step S7 regardless of the degree of color component bias. You may make it perform the process after S8.

  Further, the reference font size Z, the determination threshold value Ty, and the addition value Ds are arbitrarily set by the user using, for example, the keyboard 6 or the mouse 7, or transmitted from the printer 3 to the personal computer 1 via the network 2. It is good also as a structure memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 43. FIG.

  In this case, the user confirms the image printed by the printer 3 and adjusts the reference font size Z, the determination threshold value Ty, and the addition value Ds, or stores them in the printer 3 in advance according to the performance of the printer 3. By storing the reference font size Z, the determination threshold value Ty, and the addition value Ds in the storage unit 43, the values of the reference font size Z, the determination threshold value Ty, and the addition value Ds can be set to the character visibility. It is easy to optimize for improvement.

  Further, for example, a plurality of reference font sizes may be provided, and the addition value Ds may be increased stepwise as the font size 435 is decreased.

  Further, the example in which the character information processing apparatus is the personal computer 1 different from the printer 3 has been shown. However, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or a combination machine combining them. 8 includes a print data generation unit 41 and a storage unit 43 as a control unit 81. The print data generation unit 41 stores the character information processing program 431 and the character information 432 in the storage unit 43. On the basis of the above, for example, the image forming unit 83 that forms an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like may perform image formation.

  In this case, the image forming apparatus 8 receives the character information 432 from the computer 9 via the network 2 such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or USB, for example, and stores it in the storage unit 43. May be. Further, instead of the display 5, for example, a display 84 configured by a liquid crystal display device may be provided, and an operation unit 85 configured by a key switch, a touch panel, or the like may be provided instead of the keyboard 6 and the mouse 7.

  Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 8 can improve the visibility of halftone characters having a small font size in the character information 432 received from the computer 9, and can form an image on a sheet.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the personal computer which is an example of the character information processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the personal computer shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the personal computer shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the personal computer shown in FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 2 Network 3 Printer 4 Main body part 5,84 Display 6 Keyboard 7 Mouse 8 Image forming apparatus 9 Computer 41 Print data generation part 43 Memory | storage part 44,82 Communication I / F part 81 Control part 83 Image formation part 85 Operation part 431 Character information processing program 432 Character information 434 Character code 435 Font size 436 Color information Y, M, C, K Density value

Claims (7)

A character information processing device that converts character data representing characters by character information including character code, font size, and color information indicating a color into print data for image formation by an image forming device,
A storage unit for storing the character information;
Based on the character information stored in the storage unit, the print data is set by setting color information of the character information so that the lightness of the character represented by the character information decreases as the font size decreases. A print data generation unit for generating
A character information processing apparatus comprising: a print data output unit that outputs the print data generated by the print data generation unit to the image forming apparatus. The color information represents the color of the character by a density value indicating the density of each of a plurality of color components included in the color of the character,
When the font size of the character information stored in the storage unit is smaller than a preset reference font size, the print data generation unit uses the color component having the highest density in the color information of the character information as the representative color component. The character information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one density value of the other color components excluding the representative color component is changed so as to increase the density. The color information represents the color of the character by a density value indicating the density of each of a plurality of color components included in the color of the character,
The print data generation unit has a font size of character information stored in the storage unit smaller than a preset reference font size, and a color component other than the darkest color component in the color information of the character information. When the ratio of the density value of the darkest color component to the total density value exceeds a predetermined determination threshold, the darkest color component in the color information of the character information is set as the representative color component, and The character information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one density value of the other color components excluding the representative color component is changed so as to increase the density. The color information includes C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) as the plurality of color components,
The print data generation unit is M when the font size of the character information stored in the storage unit is smaller than a preset reference font size and the representative color component is C (cyan). If the representative color component is M (magenta), the density value of Y (yellow) is changed so that the density is high. The character information processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein if Y (yellow), the density value of C (cyan) is changed so as to increase the density. The color information includes C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) as color components included in the character color, and the density information indicating the density for each color component Represents the color of the text,
When the font size of the character information stored in the storage unit is smaller than a preset reference font size, the print data generation unit increases the density of K (black) in the color information of the character information. The character information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the character information processing device is changed so as to become. A character information processing program for causing a computer to execute processing for converting character data representing characters by character information including character code, font size, and color information representing a color into print data for image formation by an image forming apparatus There,
Storage means for storing the character information;
Based on the character information stored in the storage means, the print data is set by setting color information of the character information so that the lightness of the character represented by the character information decreases as the font size decreases. Print data generation means for generating
As print data output means for outputting the print data generated by the print data generation means to the image forming apparatus,
A character information processing program for causing a computer to function. An image forming apparatus that converts character data representing characters by character information including character code, font size, and color information representing a color into print data for image formation and forms an image based on the print data. ,
A storage unit for storing the character information;
Based on the character information stored in the storage unit, the print data is set by setting color information of the character information so that the lightness of the character represented by the character information decreases as the font size decreases. A print data generation unit for generating
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image based on the print data generated by the print data generating unit.

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