JP2008287167A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relationally constitute a printer capable of achieving photo album creation by effectively using photographed image data. <P>SOLUTION: The printer includes: an album page setting means 45A for setting a printing mode for images selected out of a plurality of frame image data; and a digest page setting means 45B for setting a printing mode for non-selected images. The digest page setting means 45B is configured to set the printing mode to print the frame image data with an image size smaller than that set by the album page setting means 45A, also, larger in terms of the number of frames than the frame image data to be printed by the album page setting means 45A on one sheet of printing paper P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints image data on a print medium constituting each page of an album.

  As a printing apparatus configured as described above, there is an apparatus that prints image data set for a cover and each page in a printing unit in order to produce an album (see Patent Document 1). In this patent document, a plurality of pages on which images are printed are folded, combined with a cover on which the images are printed, and an album is produced by fastening with rivets, staples, or the like, or by gluing.

  In addition, as related to the production of the album, image information acquired by a film scanner or the like is processed by a general-purpose computer, and printing is performed by a printing mechanism so that a margin is formed on one end side of the print paper. A large number of holes are formed by punching portions. Print paper with holes formed in this way includes album cover, back cover, and pages corresponding to each page, and each page corresponds to the cover and back cover And an album is produced by binding using a binder (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-56223 A (paragraph numbers [0028] to [0040], FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 10) JP 2002-49106 A (paragraph numbers [0016] to [0025], FIGS. 1 to 5)

  Since many people are included in the image data taken at a trip or party, it is often done to circulate the printed photos to the people who participated in the trip or party. As described in the problem of Document 2, setting a photograph on a small album having a transparent resin sheet has been performed.

  The diversification of photographic prints has progressed, and albums have been developed as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, instead of printing in general sizes such as L and E. Image data is also being printed in a form that creates a binding margin at the end of the recording medium as possible.

  With the spread of high-performance digital cameras, it is possible to perform simple shooting, and the number of frames that are shot during travel and parties is extremely large. Since simple photographing is possible in this way, the photographed image data includes many images that are not well reflected and those that do not have a good facial expression.

  When creating an album by photo printing, there is a limit to the number of print media that can be bound as an album, so it is necessary to select image data to be printed as an album. However, there are some things that are not well-viewed and those that do not have a good expression, and that are worth watching. For this reason, it may be possible to produce an album by printing all the frames, but this is not practical because it causes waste in printing and increases the cost of printing.

  An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a printing apparatus that realizes production of an album by effectively using photographed image data.

A feature of the present invention is that in a printing apparatus that prints image data on a print medium constituting each page of an album,
An album page setting that includes an image data acquisition unit that acquires the image data of a plurality of frames, and that sets a print mode for the print medium for the selected image data of the plurality of frames acquired by the image data acquisition unit And a digest page setting unit that sets a print mode for the print medium for the unselected image data of the plurality of frames, and the digest page setting unit is a single page of the album page setting unit. It is to realize printing of image data having a number of frames larger than the number of frames of image data printed on the print medium.

  According to this configuration, the album page setting unit sets the print form for the print medium selected from the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit, and the digest page setting unit sets the print mode for the one not selected. The image data of a frame smaller than the image size set by the album page setting unit and larger than the number of frames of image data printed on one print medium by the album page setting unit is realized. In other words, the album page setting unit creates a page suitable for viewing by printing on a print medium with a relatively large size, and the digest page setting unit sets image data that has not been printed by the album page setting unit. Since a large number of images can be printed on one print medium, it is possible to print all of the image data that has not been printed. Therefore, a printing apparatus that effectively uses photographed image data to create an album has been rationally configured.

  According to the present invention, the digest page setting means has a plurality of print media margins based on the number of frames of image data not selected and the target number of print media on which these image data are to be printed. A layout setting module for setting a combination of image sizes may be provided. According to this, it is possible to print by effectively using the area that can be used for printing on the target number of print media.

  In the present invention, a total number of print media used for the album is set, and a surplus number obtained by subtracting the number of print media designated for printing by the album page setting means from the total number is used as the digest. You may set to the said target number of sheets in a page setting means. According to this, since the album is standardized using a fixed number of print media, the production becomes easy.

  In the present invention, the layout setting module may set the image data by setting a random order different from the order in which the image data of the plurality of frames are captured. According to this, it is possible to avoid a phenomenon in which similar scenery or the like is continuously arranged.

  In the present invention, the digest page setting means sets a minimum image size in advance by a rectangular image area, and sets a required image size by multiplying the vertical and horizontal lengths of the image area by an integer. You may do it. According to this, a simple process can be performed while avoiding the inconvenience that the process becomes complicated like the case of changing the image size steplessly.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
〔overall structure〕
As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing unit A that processes image data, and print processing is performed on silver salt type photographic paper P (an example of a print medium) based on processing information sent from the image processing unit A. A printing apparatus is configured to include the print processing unit B. This printing apparatus is also configured so that image data received by the receiving terminal C is processed by the image processing unit A and printed by the print processing unit B.

  This printing apparatus is assumed to be installed in a DP store, and the reception terminal C is installed on a counter table T in the store. A communication system having a cable L and a repeater H such as a hub so as to transmit processing information from the receiving terminal C to the image processing unit A and from the image processing unit A to the print processing unit B Is formed. This communication system is constructed as an Ethernet (trademark) type LAN of CSMA / CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) system, but the communication system is not limited to this.

  The image processing unit A is disposed inside the store from the counter table T, generates processing information from image data stored in a semiconductor medium used for photographing with a digital camera, and uses a silver salt type camera (not shown). The processing information is generated from the photographic film F used in (1)), and the processing information is generated from the image data received by the receiving terminal C.

  The processing information includes print size / number of print order information for realizing print processing and image data to be printed.

(Image processing unit)
As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing unit A includes a film scanner 2 that captures a frame image of the photographic film F as image data by photoelectric conversion with respect to a console 1, a display 3 that displays various information, and print processing. And a processing device 4 composed of a general-purpose computer that performs the necessary processing. On the upper surface of the console 1, a keyboard 5 for inputting information to the processing device 4 and a mouse 6 functioning as a pointing device are provided. The film scanner 2 realizes scanning of a plurality of types of photographic films F by selecting a film carrier 8 suitable for the size of the photographic film F.

  The processing device 4 includes a disk drive 7d that acquires image data from a disk-shaped medium Md such as a CD, MO, and FD, and a semiconductor drive 7s that acquires image data from the semiconductor medium Ms. The processing device 4 performs necessary processing on the image data in a state where the image data is displayed on the display 3, and transmits processing information after this processing to the print processing unit B, thereby printing in the print processing unit B. Realize processing. The processing device 4 also realizes a process of creating an electronic album by storing image data on the disk-shaped medium Md set in the disk drive 7d.

  As the disk-shaped medium Md, a CD (Compact Disc), a CD-R (CD-Recordable), an MO (Magnet Optical Disk), or the like is assumed. As the semiconductor medium Ms, a Compact Flash (trademark), An SD memory card (trademark), a Memory Stick (trademark), and the like are assumed.

[Print processing section]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the print processing unit B includes an exposure block Ex that performs an exposure process for a photographic paper P as a print medium, and a development block De that performs a development process for the photographic paper P after the exposure. The housing 10 has a dark box structure that accommodates a drying block Dr for drying the photographic paper P after development. The print processing unit B sends out the photographic paper P after the drying process in the drying block Dr from the discharge unit 11 to the upper surface of the conveyance belt 12, and the photographic paper P conveyed in the horizontal direction by the conveyance belt 12 in units of orders. A sorter 14 having a plurality of trays 13 is provided for sorting and collecting.

  The print processing section B is not limited to the one using the silver salt type photographic paper P. For example, the print processing unit B includes an ink jet type or sublimation type print head and does not require the silver salt type photographic paper P. May be.

  In the exposure block Ex, a roll-shaped color photographic paper P stored in one of the two photographic paper magazines MA, MA is pulled out by a pressure-advanced advance roller 16 and cut into a print size by a cutter unit 17. Information such as color correction information is printed on the back side of the photographic paper P by the print head 18, and thereafter, control for feeding the photographic paper P to the exposure path is executed by the chuck unit 19 that sandwiches and conveys the photographic paper P.

  In the exposure path, the photographic paper P from the chuck unit 19 is received by the receiving roller 20, and the photographic paper P is pressed by a pair of driving rollers 21 and a pair of driven rollers 22 corresponding to the photographic paper P. Transport in the sub-scanning direction). During this conveyance, exposure is performed in such a manner that the laser beam from the exposure unit 23 is scanned along the main scanning direction at the exposure position. Then, the photographic paper P that has been exposed is converted into a horizontal direction in the front conveyance path including a plurality of pressure rollers 24. Thereafter, the photographic paper P conveyed in the horizontal direction is divided into two rows of distribution paths in the distribution path including the two chuckers 25, and further from the rear conveyance path including the plurality of pressure rollers 26 to the development block De. It is transferred to the pressure-injection type introduction roller 27 and developed.

  The developing block De includes a developing tank 28 in which a plurality of processing tanks including a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a stabilizing tank are integrally formed, and a transport mechanism 29 that supplies the photographic paper P to each developing tank. The photographic paper P supplied from the exposure block Ex is supplied to the plurality of processing tanks to perform development processing. The drying block Dr performs drying by supplying dry air from the blower 30 to the photographic paper P sent out from the developing block De.

[Reception terminal]
As shown in FIG. 2, the reception terminal C includes a casing 32 and a liquid crystal display 33 having a touch panel formed on the display surface. The front of the housing 32 includes a disk drive 34d that acquires image data from a disk-shaped medium Md such as a CD, MO, and FD, and a semiconductor drive 34s that acquires image data from the semiconductor medium Ms. A processing unit that includes a connector 35 connected to the cellular phone CP and a receipt printer 37 that prints the receipt 36, and performs processing for obtaining an order in the housing 32 and transmitting it to the image processing unit A. 38.

  The receiving terminal C obtains order information such as the print size and the number of prints necessary for print processing and customer-specific information (name and telephone number) by bringing a finger etc. into contact with the icons displayed on the display 33. The acquired image data is transmitted to the image processing unit A together with processing information necessary for the print processing and customer-specific information.

  As the disk-shaped medium Md, a CD (Compact Disc), a CD-R (CD-Recordable), an MO (Magnet Optical Disk), or the like is assumed as in the processing device 4, and the semiconductor medium Ms is a compact flash. (Compact Flash (trademark)), SD memory card (trademark), Memory Stick (trademark), etc. are assumed. Further, in this printing apparatus, the disk drive 7d and the semiconductor drive 7s provided in the film scanner 2 and the processing apparatus 4, the disk drive 34d and the semiconductor drive 34s provided in the receiving terminal C, and the connector 35 respectively receive image data. It functions as an image data acquisition unit to acquire.

(Control configuration)
In this printing apparatus, it is possible to perform a printing process suitable for the production of the album shown in FIG. 4. In the image processing unit A, a control configuration for realizing this printing process can be shown as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the processing device 4 includes an input / output interface 40 for accessing a signal to the microprocessor CPU. The film scanner 2, the display 3, and the keyboard 5 are connected to the input / output interface 40. A signal system for accessing signals among the mouse 6, the disk drive 7d, the semiconductor drive 7s, the hard disk HD, and the communication unit E is formed. The communication unit E accesses the signal via the cable L.

  The processing device 4 includes a semiconductor memory 41 (RAM / ROM), an operating system 42, an image data acquisition control unit 43, a normal order reception control unit 44, an album order reception control unit 45, a correction processing unit on a data bus of the microprocessor CPU. 46 and the output processing unit 47 are connected. Incidentally, in order to realize the control in the processing device 4, a control bus and an address bus are required in addition to the data bus. However, in order to avoid complication, the drawing shows a control bus and an address bus. Does not show interfaces.

  The operating system 42 displays necessary information on the display 3, and based on the information displayed on the display 3, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) type using various software installed in the processing device 4. Realize processing.

  The image data acquisition control unit 43 acquires image data from the film scanner 2, the disk drive 7d, and the semiconductor drive 7s, and acquires image data from the reception terminal C. The normal order acceptance control unit 44 performs a process of accepting order information for printing image data on the entire surface of the standardized size photographic paper P.

  The album order reception control unit 45 includes album page setting means 45A, digest page setting means 45B, cover setting means 45C, layout setting module 45D, and face recognition module 45E. Each album page, cover and back Using the photographic paper P as a cover, it receives order information for printing image data on the photographic paper P in a form suitable for an album, and performs processing for generating order information.

  The correction processing unit 46 realizes automatic correction and manual correction of acquired image data. The output processing unit implements print processing by outputting order information and image data to the print processing unit B. This print processing includes those based on the order information set by the normal order acceptance control and those based on the order information set by the album acceptance control.

  The image data acquisition control unit 43, normal order reception control unit 44, album order reception control unit 45, correction processing unit 46, and output processing unit 47 are all assumed to be software developed in the semiconductor memory 41. However, part or all of it can be configured by hardware such as logic.

  The processing unit 38 of the receiving terminal C is provided with an input / output interface 50 for accessing signals to the microprocessor CPU, and the communication unit E, the disk drive 34d, and the semiconductor drive 34s are connected to the input / output interface 50. A signal system for accessing signals is formed among the connector 35, the receipt printer 37, the hard disk HD, and the communication unit E. The signal is accessed through the cable L.

  The processing unit 38 includes a semiconductor memory 51 (RAM / ROM), an operating system 52, an image data acquisition control unit 53, a normal order reception control unit 54, an album order reception control unit 55, a correction processing unit on a data bus of the microprocessor CPU. Each of 56 is connected. Incidentally, in order to realize control in this processing unit 38, a control bus, an address bus, etc. are required in addition to a data bus. However, in order to avoid complication, the drawing shows a control bus, an address bus, or Does not show interfaces.

  The operating system 52 displays information such as icons and messages necessary for acquiring image information on the display 33, and based on information acquired from the touch panel based on the displayed information, a GUI (Graphical User Interface). ) Type processing.

  The image data acquisition control unit 53 acquires image data from the disk drive 34 d, the semiconductor drive 34 s, and the connector 35. The normal order acceptance control unit 54 performs processing for accepting order information for printing image data on the entire surface of the standardized size photographic paper P.

  The album order reception control unit 55 includes album page setting means 55A, digest page setting means 55B, cover setting means 55C, layout setting module 55D, and face recognition module 55E. Each album page, cover and back Using the photographic paper P as a cover, it receives order information for printing image data on the photographic paper P in a form suitable for an album, and performs processing for generating order information.

  The correction processing unit 56 realizes automatic correction and manual correction of acquired image data. The image data and order information acquired at the receiving terminal C are transmitted to the processing device 4.

  The image data acquisition control unit 53, the normal order reception control unit 54, the album order reception control unit 55, and the correction processing unit 56 all assume software deployed in the semiconductor memory 41. It is also possible to configure everything with hardware such as logic.

〔album〕
FIG. 4 shows an example of an album created using photographic paper P on which image data is printed by this printing apparatus. This album is composed of a plurality of pages PM using photographic paper P, a cover PF, and a back cover PB. A plurality of holes PH are formed at one end of each of the pages PM, the front cover PF, and the back cover PB, and in a state where they are overlapped, the insertion portion 60A of the resin binder 60 is inserted and bound. This creates an album.

  As an album, photographic paper P (print medium) is overlapped and one end is mechanically bound using a stapler or the like, or photographic paper P is overlapped and one end is adhesive. It may also be manufactured by bonding with an adhesive tape.

  The front cover PF and the back cover PB are printed with preliminarily prepared image data such as illustrations or arbitrarily designated image data, and a plurality of holes PH are formed at one end by a punching machine or the like. The

  The page PM has a structure in which image data is printed at a biased position so as to create a non-printing area as a binding margin at one end, and a plurality of holes PH are punched at the binding margin portion. Is drilled by.

  In the page PM, a plurality of album pages PMa on which image data selected by the user for printing is printed and a plurality of image data not selected (non-selected) by the user for printing are reduced and listed. And a digest page PMd to be printed.

  The upper limit of the number of photographic papers P used for the album is determined, and when performing printing for creating an album in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the acquired image data of a plurality of frames is used as the album page PMa. When the operator or the user selects image data to be printed, the number of photographic papers P used for the album page PMa is determined, and the album order reception control unit 45 or the album order reception control unit 55 has not been selected. Order information for printing the frame image data on the target number of photographic papers P is generated.

  The number obtained by adding the target number and the number of photographic papers P used for the album page PMa is set to be equal to the upper limit number or less than the upper limit number. The image data not selected in the above is reduced and printed on the digest page PMd. These processes will be described below.

[Process type]
The album order reception control unit 45 of the image processing unit A and the album order reception control unit 55 of the reception terminal C perform the same processing, and the processing form can be shown as in the flowchart of FIG. The flow of information in this processing can be shown as in the functional block diagram of FIG.

  In other words, when the album print routine is executed, selection of the layout of the print area on which the image data on the album page PMa is printed is allowed, and all the image data acquired from the disk-shaped medium Md, the semiconductor medium Ms, etc. are sequentially The image data to be displayed on the display 3 or the display 33 and to be printed on the album page PMa is allowed (steps # 01 and # 02).

  The print area EP can be shown as shown in FIG. 5, and the layout selection of the print area EP is printed on one photographic paper P constituting the album page PMa as shown in FIG. A template is selected when images from a plurality of image data are printed on a single photographic printing paper P.

  When selecting the image data to be printed on the album page PMa, the selection screen 70 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and the image data is displayed in a list on the image display area 71. A check is displayed on the selection confirmation unit 72 by selecting the displayed image data. By operating the page change buttons 73 and 73 at the bottom of the selection screen 70, the previous or next page becomes possible, the currently displayed page is displayed on the page display unit 74, and the selected number of frames is the number of frames. It is displayed on the display unit 75.

  In the image processing unit A, the image data displayed in the image display area 71 is selected by the cursor on the selection screen 70 displayed on the display 3. In the reception terminal C, the selection screen 70 displayed on the display 33 is selected. The selection is made by touching the image data displayed in the image display area 71 with a finger or the like, and the selection is canceled by bringing the finger into contact again. The page change buttons 73 and 73 can be similarly operated.

  When a selection is made on the selection screen 70, the selected frame number is displayed on the frame number display unit 75, and the selection is completed by operating the OK button 76. Further, the processing mode may be set so that the selected image data is displayed on the screen according to the layout after the selection is completed, or the layout can be changed.

  After this selection is completed, the total number of photographic papers P (total number of pages) used for the album page PMa based on the number of selected image data (print target information) is within the set page number (set page). If the number exceeds the setting page, a message indicating that the setting page is exceeded (recognized) is displayed on the display 3 or the display 33, so that the operator or the user is notified. The user is prompted to reduce the total number of photographic papers P used for the album page PMa (steps # 03 and # 04).

  The album page setting means 45A and 55A realize the processes in steps # 01 to # 04.

  It is natural that there is a limit to the number of pages in any album. In this album, the total number of albums based on the thickness of the photographic paper P and the thickness that can be bound by the binder 60 is determined. The number of pages is determined. In this printing apparatus, the number of photographic papers P used for the album page PMa and the number of photographic papers P used for the digest page PMd are preset.

  After obtaining the number of album pages of the photographic paper P used for the album page PMa (obtained by calculation by the album page setting means 45A and 55A), the surplus page number is given to the digest page setting means 45B and 55B. The digest page setting means 45B and 55B obtain the total printable area from the printable area of one photographic paper P (Step # 05). A value obtained by subtracting the number of frames of the image data used for the album page PMa acquired in this way from the number of frames of the already acquired image data becomes the number of frames of the image data to be non-printed.

  The digest page setting means 45B and 55B are smaller than the image size set by the album page setting means 45A and 55A, and one photographic paper P (print medium) by the album page setting means 45A and 55A. The basic control form is set so as to set the print form of the image data having more frames than the number of image data to be printed.

  Next, the digest page setting means 45B, 55B determines the size of the digest image and the area of the margin formed on the photographic paper P used for the digest page PMd from the total printable area and the number of frames to be printed. Obtained by calculation (step # 06).

  This extra page corresponds to the digest page PMd. As a size of one frame of the digest image printed on the digest page PMd, a size that minimizes the rectangular area X shown by hatching in FIG. 7 is set in advance, and the vertical and horizontal sides of the minimum digest image are set. By multiplying the length by an integer such as double or triple, for example, the sizes of the enlarged digest images DX can be set. A rectangular area X indicated by hatching is shown in order to clarify the size of the minimum area, and naturally, this hatching is not printed on the digest page PMd.

  In this processing, as described above, the digest screen DX obtained by multiplying the area of the size (size of one frame) of a plurality of types of digest images DX obtained by multiplying by an integer is the number of frames of the non-print size image data. The total area is acquired, and the largest of the total areas that does not exceed the total printable area is obtained. By performing this process, the size of the digest image DX is determined, and the margin in the digest page PMd is minimized.

  Next, the layout setting modules 45D and 55D set the number of digest images DX newly generated from the size of the digest image DX and the blank area, and the size of the digest image DX (step # 07).

  That is, when a digest image DX of a predetermined size is displayed on the digest page PMd, a margin is often generated, and when a margin is generated, a printable area of the photographic paper P is wasted. In order to eliminate this waste, the size of any digest image DX in the non-print target image data is enlarged to reduce the margin.

  In addition, the arrangement of the digest images DX printed on the digest page PMd is randomly set so as not to follow the shooting order in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and at the same time, the same color tone is displayed in the vertical direction. Are set so as not to be arranged at adjacent positions in the horizontal direction. Further, in the digest page PMd, a digest image DX enlarged from the other digest images DX is preferentially used in which a human face is taken, and the layout of the digest page PMd shown in FIG. 33 (step # 08).

  Thus, the number of digest images DX enlarged to reduce the margin may be plural, and the size of the digest image DX may be three or more. Further, the page on which the enlarged digest image DX is arranged does not have to be the last page of the plurality of digest pages PMd, and can be arranged on an arbitrarily set page or arbitrarily set on the digest page PMd. It may be arranged so as to follow the layout.

  The process of extracting image data in which a person is taken is performed by the face recognition modules 45E and 55E. The processing in the face recognition modules 45E and 55E is performed by a known face recognition technique disclosed in JP-A-8-63597, JP-A-2000-48184, JP-A-2004-265431, etc. Whether or not there is.

  If the operator or the user determines that the layout displayed in this way or the image data displayed as the enlarged digest image DX is inappropriate, the artificial data of the layout or the enlarged image data is displayed. Change is allowed (steps # 09 and # 010). This process is not shown in the functional block diagram.

  Thereafter, the order information necessary for the album print processing is set by setting the front cover PF and the back cover PB (step # 011).

  After the album print routine is completed, the output processing unit 47 transmits the processing information (order information and image data) set in the album print routine to the print processing unit B, so that the print processing unit B The printing process is executed, and printing in a form suitable for producing an album is performed.

  When printing is performed in this manner, the thickness of the photographic paper P used for the front cover PF and the back cover PB is thicker than the thickness of the photographic paper P used for the page PM composed of the album page PMa and the digest page PMd. You may use things. In order to realize this process, it is only necessary to set the photographic paper P having different thicknesses in the two photographic paper magazines MA and MA.

  After the printing for producing the album is executed in this way, a plurality of holes PH are formed in the non-printing area at one end, and the front cover PF, album page PMa, digest page PMd, and back cover PB are formed. The album is completed by binding with the binder 60 in order. Instead of using only the binder 60 to produce an album, as described above, one produced by binding one end mechanically with a stapler or the like, or a stack of photographic paper P, It may be manufactured by adhering the end portion with an adhesive or an adhesive tape.

[Concept of the Invention]
In the present invention, when creating an album based on image data acquired from a medium used for shooting with a digital camera, even if the number of shot frames is large, an operator or user can only select a part of the image data. By designating the album page PMa as the print target, the remaining image data is automatically printed on the digest page PMd, so that the viewing on the album page PMa is realized and the content of the captured image data Confirmation and the grasp of the photographed situation can be performed on the digest page PMd.

  Further, when image data is printed on the digest page PMd, the size of some digest images DX is automatically increased so as to reduce the area of the blank area where the image data is not printed as much as possible. To eliminate waste. In particular, in the digest page PMd, by setting the print order of the digest images DX at random that does not follow the shooting order, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that similar image data are adjacent to each other, and the similar color tone is not adjacent. By disposing them at positions, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that image data having similar colors are adjacent to each other. In addition, it is possible to easily grasp the contents of the photographing by automatically selecting the subject in which the person is photographed as the target for enlarging the image size.

Perspective view of print management system Perspective view of reception terminal Sectional view showing the structure of the print processing unit Perspective view showing the album Diagram showing print area on album page Diagram showing selection screen Diagram showing digest page print mode Block diagram showing the control system The figure which shows the flow of the information in an album order reception control part Album print routine flowchart

Explanation of symbols

2 Image data acquisition unit (film scanner)
7d, 34d Image data acquisition unit (disk drive)
7s, 34s Image data acquisition unit (semiconductor drive)
35 Image data acquisition unit (connector)
45A, 55A Album page setting means 45B, 55B Digest page setting means 45D, 55D Layout setting module P Print medium (printing paper)

Claims (5)

A printing apparatus that prints image data on a print medium constituting each page of an album,
An image data acquisition unit that acquires the image data of a plurality of frames is provided,
An album page setting unit that sets a print mode for the print medium for a selected one of the image data of a plurality of frames acquired by the image data acquisition unit,
Digest page setting means for setting a print mode for the print medium for the image data of the plurality of frames that have not been selected is provided, and the digest page setting means is provided on one print medium by the album page setting means. A printing apparatus that realizes printing of image data having more frames than the number of image data to be printed.   The digest page setting means is a combination of a plurality of image sizes so as to minimize the margin of the print medium based on the number of frames of image data not selected and the target number of print media on which the image data is to be printed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a layout setting module for setting   The total number of print media used for the album is set, and the digest page setting means obtains the remaining number obtained by subtracting the number of print media designated as the print target by the album page setting means from the total number. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the target number is set.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the layout setting module sets the image data by setting a random order different from the order in which the image data of the plurality of frames is captured.   3. The digest page setting means sets a required image size by presetting a minimum image size according to a rectangular image area and multiplying the vertical and horizontal lengths of the image area by an integer. The printing apparatus as described.

Images