JP2009255354A - Image processor and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provider an image processor and image processing program, which enables a user to confirm an image to be color printed even if image information presenting the image including the color image is monochrome printed. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor has: an image information acquiring means for acquiring image information; a monochrome image information creating means for creating monochrome image information to print an image represented by the image information, as a monochrome image, from the image information acquired by the image information acquiring means; and a color image information creating means for creating color image information to print the image represented by the image information, as a color image, from the image information, when the color image is included in the image presented by the image information acquired by the image information acquiring means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

  A printer (computer printing system) that receives and prints image information in an LCDS (Line Conditioned Data Stream) format from a host computer creates (synthesizes) a print image on the printer. In general, printers that process LCDS information are often monochrome printers.

  In relation to this technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for separately printing a monochrome page and a color page with a monochrome printer and a color printer.

Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for printing in color only when there is a code designation that matches a registered code, and printing in monochrome if it does not match the registered code, in order to reduce the cost of color printing. Yes.
JP-A-8-152984 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-221945

  As described above, since a printer that processes image information in the LCDS format generates (combines) a print image on the printer, the print image cannot be confirmed on the host computer in advance.

  Therefore, when image information indicating an image including a color image is printed in monochrome in this environment, there is a problem that the image when color printing cannot be confirmed.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing program capable of confirming an image in color printing even when image information indicating an image including a color image is printed in monochrome. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 prints an image indicated by the image information as a monochrome image from the image information acquisition means for acquiring image information and the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means. Monochrome image information generation means for generating monochrome image information to be performed, and when the image indicated by the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means includes a color image, the image information indicates from the image information Color image information generation means for generating color image information for printing an image as a color image.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the image processing apparatus further includes display means for displaying a color image indicated by the color image information generated by the color image information generating means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further comprises storage means for storing the color image information generated by the color image information generating means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the color image is displayed on an external device capable of displaying the color image indicated by the color image information or storing the color image information. The image forming apparatus further includes transmission means for transmitting the color image information generated by the information generation means.

  The invention of claim 5 is obtained by the printing means capable of printing the image indicated by the color image information in color or monochrome and the image information acquisition means in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 4. In addition, when the image information is image information indicating an image including a color image, a print mode indicating one of a mode for printing the image indicated by the image information in color by the printing unit and a mode for printing in monochrome. Input means for inputting information by a user, and the printing means prints an image indicated by the color image information in color or monochrome according to the print mode information input by the input means. .

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 6 is an image information acquisition step for acquiring image information, and an image indicated by the image information is printed as a monochrome image from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition step. A monochrome image information generation step for generating monochrome image information to be performed, and when the image indicated by the image information acquired by the image information acquisition step includes a color image, the image information indicates from the image information An image processing program for causing a computer to execute a process having color image information generation steps for generating color image information for printing an image as a color image.

  According to the invention of claim 1, when a color image is included in the image indicated by the image information, as a result of generating color image information for printing the image indicated by the image information as a color image from the image information, Even when image information indicating an image including a color image is printed in monochrome, there is an effect that it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of confirming an image in color printing.

  In particular, when generating (synthesizing) an image to be printed only on an image processing apparatus, since the image to be printed cannot be viewed on other apparatuses, the image when color printing is performed by generating color image information. Since it can be confirmed, it is very effective.

  According to the invention of claim 2, as a result of displaying the color image indicated by the color image information, even when the image information indicating the image including the color image is printed in monochrome, it is possible to confirm the image when the color printing is performed. An effect that an image processing apparatus can be provided is obtained.

  According to the invention of claim 3, as a result of storing the color image information generated by the color image information generating means, even when the image information indicating the image including the color image is printed in monochrome, the image when the color printing is performed is confirmed. The effect that the image processing apparatus which can do can be provided is acquired.

  According to the invention of claim 4, as a result of transmitting the color image information generated by the color image information generating means to the external device, even when the image information indicating the image including the color image is monochrome printed, the color printing is performed by the external device. The effect that the image processing apparatus which can confirm the image at the time of doing can be provided is acquired.

  According to the invention of claim 5, as a result of being able to select monochrome printing or color printing, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that a reasonable printing result without waste suitable for the application can be obtained.

  According to the invention of claim 6, when a color image is included in the image indicated by the image information, as a result of generating color image information for printing the image indicated by the image information as a color image from the image information, Even when image information indicating an image including a color image is printed in monochrome, an effect is provided that it is possible to provide an image processing program that can confirm an image in color printing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus 10 and an external device 30 and a host apparatus 32 connected to the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12, a disk device 14, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 16, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 18, and a printer, which are respectively connected by a bus 32. The engine 20 includes a display unit 22, an operation input unit 24, and a network I / F (interface) unit 26.

  Among these, the CPU 12 controls the entire image processing apparatus 10, and a flowchart to be described later shows a flow of processing executed by the CPU 12. The disk device 14 collectively indicates disk type storage devices such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive), DVD, CD, Blu-Ray, and the like. Among these, the HDD stores an image processing program, which will be described later, in the present embodiment. Also, image information is stored in the HDD, DVD, and CD.

  The RAM 16 is a storage device in which an OS (Operating System), the image processing program, image information, and the like are expanded. The ROM 18 stores a program developed in the RAM 16, a boot program that operates at the time of startup, a setting value related to the image processing apparatus 10, and the like.

  The printer engine 20 is an engine that prints an image indicated by image information on a recording medium such as paper. In this embodiment, a monochrome image may be printed unless otherwise specified, and a color image may be printed. It may be possible. The printing method in the present embodiment employs a flash fixing method in which a xenon lamp is caused to emit light and the toner is fixed by heat, but any method may be used.

  The display unit 22 displays information to the user, such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Further, a touch panel function may be provided.

  The operation input unit 24 is for inputting information by a user, such as a keyboard and a mouse. The network I / F unit 26 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card) for connecting to a network, its driver, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device, and the like. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, the connection is made to the external device 30 and the host device 32. The host apparatus 32 and the image processing apparatus 10 may be connected by a device independent method such as channel connection.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the host device 32 transmits image information in LCDS (Line Conditioned Data Stream) format to the image processing device 10. The image processing apparatus 10 that processes the image information in the LCDS format generates (synthesizes) an image to be printed on the image processing apparatus 10, and therefore confirms the image of the image printed in advance on the host device 32. I can't do it.

  The external device 30 receives the image information from the image processing device 10 and stores the image information in a storage device provided in the external device 30 or performs image processing so that the image is printed in color or monochrome as described later. It instructs the device 10.

  In addition, you may make it add the thing regarding image processing, such as an interface for connecting with a scanner engine, a telephone line, etc. to the structure of the image processing apparatus 10 demonstrated above. The printer engine 20 is one of the components of the image processing apparatus 10, but may be connected to the image processing apparatus 10 as an external device.

  Hereinafter, image processing executed by the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of basic image processing. First, in step 101, image information transmitted from the host device 32 is acquired. In the next step 102, monochrome image information for printing the image indicated by the image information as a monochrome image is generated from the image information. The generated monochrome image information is temporarily stored in the RAM 16.

  In the next step 103, it is determined whether or not the acquired image information includes information indicating a color image. If a negative determination is made in step 103, the process proceeds to step 105. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 103, color image information for printing an image indicated by the image information as a color image is generated from the acquired image information in step 104. The generated color image information is temporarily stored in the RAM 16.

  In the next step 105, the monochrome image information generated in step 102 or the color image information generated in step 104 is stored in the disk device 14 described above, and the process ends. Note that the monochrome image information and the color image information are files on the information processing apparatus 10, and when the file name of the original image information is X, for example, the monochrome image information is named X_mon. Since the color image information has a file name X_col, the user can check whether the image information acquired from the host device 32 is image information indicating a color original also by this file name.

  In the above-described processing, color image information is always generated when a color image is included. However, if it is known in advance that color printing is performed, the user can check the color image, so the color image is not necessarily displayed. There is no need to generate information.

  Examples of formats of monochrome image information and color image information generated in the above-described processing include PDF (Portable Document Format) and PS (Post Scrip). Note that a monochrome image in the present embodiment indicates an image indicated by only one color (for example, black or blue), and a color image indicates an image indicated by two or more colors.

  Next, the flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing when printing the image information generated by the image processing. First, the image processing is executed in step 201, and the generated image information is transmitted to the printer engine 20 in the next step 202, so that the image is printed by the printer engine 20 in step 203. The image to be printed here is naturally a monochrome image when the image information transmitted from the host device 32 indicates a monochrome image, and the image information transmitted from the host device 32 includes a color image. In this case, a monochrome image may be used.

  In the case of only printing an image, the processing in step 105 in the image processing is not necessarily required, and the image information temporarily stored in the RAM 16 may be transmitted to the printer engine 20.

  The flowchart of FIG. 4 shows the flow of processing when the image information generated by the image processing is transmitted to the external device 30. First, the image processing is executed in step 301, and the generated image information is transmitted to the external device 30 in the next step 302.

  Note that when the image is simply transferred or printed and transferred, the processing of step 105 in the image processing is not necessarily required, and the image information temporarily stored in the RAM 16 is transmitted to the printer engine 20. It ’s fine.

  Next, image display processing for displaying a color image indicating an image including color image information generated by the image processing will be described using the flowchart of FIG. This process is executed, for example, when the user inputs to display the color image information list.

  First, in step 401, a list of color image information is displayed on the display unit 22. An example of this display is shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a screen displaying a list of color images indicated by the color image information generated by the image processing, such as “plan book” and “in-house landscape photo collection”. In the case of a touch panel, an image indicated by image information to be displayed can be input by the user pressing a location corresponding to an image selected by the user from the list.

  The next step 402 is waiting for input from the user. When image information to be displayed is input by the user, the image indicated by the corresponding color image information is displayed on the display unit 22 in step 403 and the process is terminated.

  The image display process may be performed by the external device 30. In this case, the external device 30 displays a list of image information stored in the external device 30 on the display unit provided in the external device 30 as shown in FIG. 6, and image information to be displayed is input by the user. Then, the image indicated by the corresponding color image information is displayed on the display unit, and the process ends.

  Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 7, when the image information is image information indicating an image including a color image, a mode for printing the image indicated by the image information in color by the printer engine 20 and a mode for printing in monochrome A print mode selection process is described in which print mode information indicating one of the above is input by the user, and an image indicated by the color image information is printed in color or monochrome according to the input print mode information. This process is executed subsequent to the image process or the image display process, and the printer engine 20 can perform color printing.

  First, in step 501, a print mode selection screen is displayed on the display unit 22. An example of this display is shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows a print mode input screen that prompts the user to input one of “color printing” and “monochrome printing” which are print modes. In the case of a touch panel, when the user presses a location corresponding to the print mode selected by the user from the print modes, a print mode indicating either a color print mode or a monochrome print mode is displayed. Information is entered by the user.

  The next step 502 is waiting for user input. When print mode information is input by the user, it is determined in step 503 whether the input print mode information indicates monochrome.

  If the determination in step 503 is affirmative, monochrome image information is transmitted to the printer engine 20 in step 504. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, color image information is transmitted to the printer engine 20 in step 505.

  In the next step 506, the printer engine 20 prints the image indicated by the transmitted image information, and the process ends.

  The print mode selection process may be performed by the external device 30. In this case, the external device 30 displays a list of image information stored in the external device 30 on a display unit provided in the external device 30 as shown in FIG. 6, and image information to be printed is input by the user. Then, the image indicated by the corresponding image information is transferred to the image processing apparatus 10, and the image processing apparatus 10 prints the image indicated by the transferred image information by the printer engine 20.

  The processing flow of each flowchart described above is an example, and the processing order may be changed, new steps may be added, or unnecessary steps may be deleted without departing from the scope of the present invention. Needless to say, you can.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment and an external device and a host device connected to the image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of basic image processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a transfer process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a display process. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen which displayed the color image information list. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of print mode selection processing. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen which displayed the printing mode input screen.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image processing device 12 CPU
14 Disk device 16 RAM
18 ROM
20 Printer Engine 22 Display Unit 24 Operation Input Unit 30 External Device 32 Host Device

Claims (6)

Image information acquisition means for acquiring image information;
Monochrome image information generation means for generating monochrome image information for printing the image indicated by the image information as a monochrome image from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means;
Color that generates color image information for printing an image indicated by the image information as a color image from the image information when the image indicated by the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit includes a color image Image information generating means;
An image processing apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a color image indicated by the color image information generated by the color image information generation means.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the color image information generated by the color image information generation unit.   The transmission device that further transmits the color image information generated by the color image information generation unit to an external device that displays the color image indicated by the color image information or can store the color image information. The image processing device according to any one of items 3 to 4. Printing means capable of printing an image indicated by the color image information in color or monochrome;
When the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit is image information indicating an image including a color image, a mode for printing the image indicated by the image information in color by the printing unit and a mode for printing in monochrome An input means for inputting print mode information indicating any one of
Further comprising
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints an image indicated by the color image information in color or monochrome in accordance with printing mode information input by the input unit. An image information acquisition step for acquiring image information;
Monochrome image information generation step for generating monochrome image information for printing the image indicated by the image information as a monochrome image from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition step;
Color that generates color image information for printing the image indicated by the image information as a color image from the image information when the image indicated by the image information acquired by the image information acquisition step includes a color image An image information generation step;
An image processing program for causing a computer to execute a process including:

Images