JP2010263284A - Image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing unit, capable of generating print data for printing a display state for each transition by effectively utilizing blank regions occurring on recording sheets. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing unit includes a blank region calculation means for calculating the number of blank regions in which no images are disposed at an image arrangement position on the recording sheet; a transition slide data detection means of detecting transition slide data where the display state changes from data for projection; a determination means of an image prior to transition for determining the image before transition of the transition slide data detected by the transition slide data detection means, by not more than the number of blank regions calculated by the blank region calculation means; and a printing data generation means of disposing the image prior to transition determined by the determination means of the image prior to the transition and the slide image to generate the printing data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that generates print data for printing by arranging a plurality of slide images represented by slide data included in projection data on a single recording sheet.

  In the presentation material creation application software, by storing the display background, displayed information content, information content transition, information content transition timing, the display state on the display transitions according to the information content transition timing, A series of transitions is managed as one slide data. Therefore, in the slide data in which the display state transitions, image data indicating the display state for each transition originally does not exist, and when the slide data in which the display state transitions is printed, an image indicating the last display state is usually displayed. Printed. On the other hand, as in Patent Document 1, a printer that can print images showing all display states by developing slide data in which the display state transitions into a display state for each transition and generating print data Drivers are known.

JP 2009-9509 A

  By the way, when printing with the setting to print a plurality of slide data on one recording sheet, there may be a region where the slide image is not arranged at the arrangement position of the slide image. At this time, there is a demand for effective use of this blank area in the printing process. However, the above-described technology such as Patent Document 1 does not consider this blank area. SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus capable of generating print data for printing a display state for each transition by effectively using a blank area generated on a recording sheet. .

  An image processing apparatus of the invention made to achieve such an object provides print data for printing a plurality of slide images represented by slide data included in projection data on a single recording sheet. An image processing apparatus for generating a blank area number calculating means for calculating the number of blank areas where an image is not arranged at an image arrangement position on a recording sheet, and detecting transition slide data whose display state transitions from the projection data A transition slide data detecting means for determining the pre-transition image determining means for determining the pre-transition image of the transition slide data detected by the transition slide data detecting means for the number of blank areas calculated by the blank area number calculating means. Print data for generating print data by arranging the pre-transition image determined by the pre-transition image determining means and the slide image And forming means, characterized in that it comprises a.

  The image processing apparatus further includes slide data calculation means for calculating the total number (N) of the slide data, and the number of blank areas calculated by the blank area number calculation means can be arranged on P recording sheets. Maximum number of images (P × n: P is N / n when N / n is an integer, N / n is the smallest integer exceeding N / n when N / n is not an integer, and n is an image arranged on one recording sheet) It is good that it is the number (Pn-N) obtained by subtracting the total number of the slide data calculated by the slide data calculating means.

  In the image processing apparatus, the print data generation unit may generate print data arranged in the order in which the pre-transition image determined by the pre-transition image determination unit and the slide image are displayed.

  In the image processing apparatus, the pre-transition image determining means may determine the pre-transition image in the order in which the transition slide data is displayed.

  In the above-described image processing device, the pre-transition image determination unit is configured such that the pre-transition image of the transition slide data and the slide image represented by the transition slide data including the pre-transition image are arranged on the same recording sheet. The pre-transition image may be determined on the condition that

  In the image processing apparatus, when the pre-transition image determination means prints N pieces of slide data arranged in rows and columns on a single recording sheet, the transition slide data The pre-transition image may be determined on condition that the pre-transition image and the slide image represented by the transition slide data including the pre-transition image are arranged in one direction in the order of the transition.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention can generate print data for printing a display state for each transition by effectively using a blank area generated on a recording sheet.

It is an outline explanatory view for explaining an outline of an embodiment. It is an outline explanatory view for explaining an outline of an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an expansion | deployment printing process. It is a flowchart which shows the pre-transition image determination process in 1st embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of the image determination process before transition in 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows 1 slide data printing processing. It is a flowchart which shows the image determination process before the transition in 2nd embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of the image determination process before transition in 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the image determination process before transition in 3rd embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the specific example of the image determination process before transition in 3rd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, an image forming apparatus provided with a printing mechanism in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described as an example.

(Outline of the embodiment)
First, an outline of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 and 2 are schematic explanatory diagrams for explaining the outline of the embodiment.

  The outline of the embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case of printing projection data composed of three pieces of slide data as shown in FIG. FIGS. 1A to 1E show display states when three pieces of slide data are projected. Note that the slide data is data in which the display background and the information content to be displayed are stored. The slide data in which the display state transitions (hereinafter referred to as transition slide data) further includes the information content transition and the mouse. The timing of transition of information contents such as an operation of a pointing device such as is stored. That is, the transition slide data manages a series of transitions as one slide data. Therefore, since the image data indicating the display state for each transition is generated each time based on the transition of the stored information content and the transition timing of the information content, the image indicating the display state for each transition is originally generated. There is no data. That is, the image that the transition slide data displays as unique slide data is an image (slide image) indicating the last display state, and when the transition slide data is printed, an image (slide image) indicating the last display state is output. Is done.

  In the first slide data, a font written as A is displayed as shown in FIG. In the second slide data, a font written B is displayed as shown in FIG. The third slide data has an animation that hides the font written C in the box 10. First, in the third slide data, a font written C is displayed as shown in FIG. Then, when the user operates a pointing device such as a mouse, the animation is started, and as shown in FIG. 1D, an animation is displayed in which the box 10 slides in and hides the font written C. When the animation ends, the font written C is hidden as shown in FIG. 1E, and only the box 10 is displayed.

  When the three slide data are printed with the setting of arranging two pieces of data on one recording sheet and printing, a blank area where no image is arranged is 1 in the arrangement area of the image on the second recording sheet. There are. At this time, slide data having an animation is expanded, and image data of an image (hereinafter referred to as a pre-transition image) indicating a display state before the transition by the animation is generated by the number of blank areas. In other words, image data of the pre-transition image does not exist independently in the slide data having animation, but the image data of the pre-transition image is generated by this development process, and the image data of the pre-transition image is independent. Will exist.

  In the example of FIG. 1, since the number of blank areas is one, one piece of image data of the pre-transition image is generated. Here, in the third slide data having an animation, there is one image in which the pre-transition image shows the display state of FIG. Therefore, the third slide data is expanded and image data of an image showing the display state of FIG. 1C is generated. In this case, an image represented by the first slide data and the second slide data, which are slide data whose display state does not change (an image showing the display state in FIGS. 1A and 1B), and the display An image of the image data generated by expanding the third slide data whose state transitions (an image showing the display state of FIG. 1C) and the last of the third slide data whose display state transitions An image indicating the display state (an image indicating the display state in FIG. 1E) becomes print data, and images indicating the four display states in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1E are printed. Is done. FIG. 2 shows a print result of the print data generated when the three slide data shown in FIG. 1 are arranged and printed on a single recording sheet.

  Thus, when the total number of pre-transition images is less than or equal to the number of blank areas, image data of all pre-transition images is generated and becomes print data.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment including a case where there are a lot of slide data having an animation and a case where the total number of images before transition is larger than the number of blank areas due to the existence of a lot of transitions in the slide data having an animation. Will be described in detail.

(First embodiment)
1. Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 13, a RAM 15, a print processing unit 17, and a USB I / F 19. The CPU 11 performs overall control of all configurations of the image processing apparatus 1. The ROM 13 stores a program executed by the CPU 11 in order for the image forming apparatus 1 to perform various processes such as a development printing process according to the present embodiment. The RAM 15 is used as a storage area for storing data generated when the CPU 11 performs various processes, and is also used as a storage area when the CPU 11 performs various processes. The print processing unit 17 includes a mechanism for printing on a recording sheet. A USB memory is attached to the USB I / F 19. The image forming apparatus 1 reads the projection data stored in the USB memory and executes the following expanded printing process.

2. Unfolded Printing Processing Next, unfolded printing processing for unfolding and printing slide data having animation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the expanded printing process.

  The unfolding printing process starts when the user gives an instruction to print projection data. When the expanded printing process is started, first, layout information designated in the user's print instruction is acquired (S110). The layout information is information indicating how many images are arranged and printed on one recording sheet. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, information that two images are arranged and printed on one recording sheet is acquired. Once the layout information has been acquired, it is next determined whether multi-page printing processing is necessary (S115). The multi-page printing process is a process for arranging and printing a plurality of images on one recording sheet, and is determined based on the layout information acquired in the process of S110. That is, when the layout information acquired in the processing of S110 is information that two or more images are arranged and printed on one recording sheet, it is determined that multi-page printing processing is necessary. (S115: Yes). When it is determined that the multi-page printing process is not necessary (S115: No), the normal printing process is performed (S120), and the development printing process is terminated. Note that normal printing processing refers to processing for printing slide data having an animation without developing the data.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the multi-page printing process is necessary in the process of S115 (S115: Yes), the total number of slide data of the projection data to be printed is acquired (S123). When the total number of slide data is acquired, it is determined whether there is a blank area on the recording sheet to be printed based on the information acquired by the processing of S110 and S123 (S124). Whether there is a blank area is Pn−N (where n is the number of images arranged on one recording sheet and is an integer of 2 or more, N is the total number of slide data, and P is the number of recording sheets. When N / n is an integer, N / n · N / n is not an integer, the smallest integer exceeding N / n) is calculated, and it is determined whether the value is an integer of 1 or more. Pn-N indicates the number of blank areas, and Pn is the maximum number of images that can be arranged on P recording sheets, and is calculated by subtracting N, which is the total number of slide data. When the value of Pn-N is an integer equal to or greater than 1, it is determined that a blank area exists (S124: Yes). When it is determined that a blank area exists (S124: Yes), the process proceeds to S125. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no blank area (S124: No), normal printing processing is performed (S120), and the expanded printing processing is terminated.

  When it is determined that there is a blank area (S124: Yes) and the process proceeds to S125, it is determined whether slide data having an animation exists in the projection data to be printed (S125). If it is determined that there is no slide data having an animation (S125: No), a normal printing process is performed (S120), and the development printing process is terminated. If it is determined that there is slide data having an animation (S125: Yes), the process proceeds to the pre-transition image determination process (S130).

  The pre-transition image determination process is a process of determining the number of blank areas (Pn-N) of pre-transition images for generating image data by developing slide data having animation. By this pre-transition image determination processing, pre-transition images corresponding to the number of blank areas are determined. Then, of the slide data, the transition slide data including the determined pre-transition image is expanded and printed. Accordingly, it is possible to print the display state for each transition by effectively using the blank area generated on the recording sheet. Note that slide data having no animation has no pre-transition image, and is not determined by the pre-transition image determination process. The pre-transition image determination process will be described later.

  When the pre-transition image determination process is completed, the process proceeds to one slide data printing process (S135). One slide data printing process is a process for generating and printing print data in the order of slide data. The transition slide data including the pre-transition image determined in the process of S130 is expanded and printed, and the transition slide data in which the pre-transition image is not determined in the process of S130 and the slide data whose display state does not change are slide data. An image (slide image) represented by is printed. The slide image is an image represented by slide data, and in particular, the transition slide data is an image indicating the last display state. One slide data printing process will be described later.

  When one slide data printing process is completed, it is next determined whether there is slide data to be processed (S140). That is, it is determined whether the slide data that has undergone one slide data printing process is the last slide data to be projected last. If the slide data that has undergone one slide data printing process is not the final slide data, it is determined that there is slide data to be processed (S140: Yes), and the process returns to S135. Then, until it is determined that there is no slide data to be processed (S140: No), the one slide data printing process of S135 is repeated (S135). On the other hand, if the slide data that has undergone one slide data printing process is the final slide data, it is determined that there is no slide data to be processed (S140: No), and the process proceeds to S145.

  When the process proceeds to S145, it is determined whether there is unprinted print data (S145). That is, the print data to be printed in the one slide data printing process of S135 is print data in which n images are arranged on one recording sheet, and the print data is not arranged in n and has a blank area. Is not printed. In other words, if there is print data that is not arranged n and has a blank area, it is determined that there is print data that has not been printed (S145: Yes). If it is determined that there is unprinted print data (S145: Yes), the print data is printed (S150). On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no unprinted print data (S145: No), that is, if all the print data is printed in the one-slide data printing process of S135, the expanded printing process is terminated. .

3. Pre-Transition Image Determination Process Next, the pre-transition image determination process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing pre-transition image determination processing in the first embodiment.

  When the pre-transition image determination process is started, first, the number of blank areas is acquired (S210). That is, the number of blank areas (Pn−N) calculated in the process of S125 of FIG. 4 is acquired. When the number of blank areas is acquired, pre-transition images for developing the transition slide data to generate image data are determined in the order in which the slide data is displayed for the number of blank areas (S215). When the pre-transition image is determined, the pre-transition image determination process is terminated.

  The pre-transition image determination process will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the pre-transition image determination process in the first embodiment.

  The pre-transition image determination process will be described by taking as an example a case where four pieces of projection data consisting of five slide data are arranged and printed on a single recording sheet. Of the five slide data, the second and third slide data are slide data having animation, and there are two pre-transition images. FIG. 6A shows the display states of the five slide data.

  When the pre-transition image determination process is started, first, the number of blank areas is acquired (S210). Specifically, since P = 2, n = 4, and N = 5, the number of blank areas is three (Pn−N = 2 × 4−5). Next, it is determined in the order in which the slide data is projected for three pre-transition images, which is the number of blank areas (S215). That is, three pre-transition images are determined in the order in which the four pre-transition images 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 and 3-2 shown in FIG. . Accordingly, the pre-transition images of 2-1, 2-2, and 3-1 are determined. The print result of the print data generated when the five slide data shown in FIG. 6 (a) is printed with the setting to print four pieces of data on one recording sheet is shown in FIG. 6 (b). Shown in

4.1 Slide Data Print Processing Next, one slide data print processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing one slide data printing process.

  When one slide data printing process is started, it is first determined whether the slide data to be processed needs to be expanded (S310). Whether the expansion process is necessary is determined based on whether the slide data to be processed is transition slide data including the pre-transition image determined by the pre-transition image determination process. That is, it is determined that the transition slide data including the pre-transition image determined by the pre-transition image determination process needs to be expanded (S310: Yes). Transition slide data that does not include the pre-transition image determined by the pre-transition image determination process, or slide data that does not change the display state is determined not to require development processing (S310: No).

  When it is determined that the development process is not necessary (S310: No), the image represented by the slide data (slide image) is arranged in the image arrangement area (S313). When the slide image is arranged, it is determined whether n images are arranged (S315). The arrangement of n images means that print data in which n images are arranged on one page is generated. Therefore, when the transition from the pre-transition image determination process to the first slide data printing process is performed for the first time, that is, in the first slide data printing process for the first slide data, the process proceeds to S315. Since only the slide image is arranged, it is determined that n images are not arranged (S315: No). When it is determined that n images are not arranged (S315: No), the one slide data printing process is terminated. On the other hand, when print data in which n images are arranged on one page is generated and it is determined that n images are arranged (S315: Yes), the print data is printed (S320). One slide data printing process is terminated.

  When it is determined that the expansion process is necessary in the process of S310 (S310: Yes), the determined number of pre-transition images is acquired (S325). That is, of the pre-transition images included in the transition slide data to be processed, the number of pre-transition images determined by the pre-transition image determination process in FIG. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, since the two pre-transition images 2-1 and 2-2 are determined for the second slide data, 2 is 1 and 3-1 is 3-1. Since 1 pre-transition image has been determined, 1 is acquired.

  When the determined number of pre-transition images is acquired, the transition of the transition slide data to be processed is started (S330). That is, the reproduction of the animation stored in the transition slide data to be processed is started. When transition starts, it is a pre-transition image included in the transition slide data to be processed, and is a snapshot of the pre-transition image that is displayed in the earliest order among the pre-transition images determined by the pre-transition image determination process. Is stored (S335). In other words, image data of the pre-transition image that is included in the transition slide data to be processed and that is displayed in the earliest order among the pre-transition images determined by the pre-transition image determination process is generated, and this image data is converted into the transition slide data. Exists independently of the data. In the example of FIG. 6, in the case of one slide data printing process of the second slide data, a snapshot of the 2-1 pre-transition image that is determined by the pre-transition image determination process and that is projected first is stored. Is done.

  When the snapshot is saved, the pre-transition image indicated by the snapshot is arranged in the image arrangement area (S337). When the pre-transition image is arranged, it is determined whether n images are arranged (S340). The determination of whether n images have been arranged is the same as the processing in S315. When it is determined that n images have been arranged (S340: Yes), print data in which n images are arranged on one page is generated, so the print data is printed (S345). The process proceeds to S350. When it is determined that n images are not arranged (S340: No), the process proceeds to S350.

  When the process proceeds to S350, it is determined whether the processing of all the pre-transition image data has been completed (S350). That is, it is determined whether image data of all the pre-transition images determined by the pre-transition image determination process among the pre-transition images included in the transition slide data to be processed has been generated. In the example of FIG. 6, in the case of the one slide data printing process of the second slide data, it is determined whether the image data of the pre-transition images 2-1 and 2-2 has been generated. In the case of the one slide data printing process of the third slide data, it is determined whether the image data of the pre-transition image of 3-1 has been generated. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 6, in the case of the one slide data printing process of the second slide data, when the process proceeds to the process of S335 for the first time through the process of S330, only the image data of the pre-transition image of 2-1 is generated. Therefore, it is determined that all the pre-transition images have not been processed (S350: No). If it is determined that all pre-transition images have not been processed (S350: No), the process returns to S335, and is the pre-transition image included in the transition slide data to be processed, Of the determined pre-transition image, a snapshot of the pre-transition image that is displayed in the next order is stored (S335). In the example of FIG. 6, in the case of the one slide data printing process of the second slide data, the image data of the pre-transition image 2-2 is generated. Then, the processes of S330 to S345 are repeated until it is determined in the process of S350 that all the pre-transition images have been processed (S350: Yes). That is, the image data of the pre-transition image determined by the pre-transition image determination processing among the pre-transition images included in the transition slide data determined to require development processing (S310: Yes) is processed by the processing of S335. When the image data of all the pre-transition images are generated sequentially and it is determined that the processing of all the pre-transition images has been completed (S350: Yes).

  If it is determined that all pre-transition images have been processed (S350: Yes), the process proceeds to S313. In the process of S313, when an image (slide image) indicating the last display state of the transition slide data is arranged and it is determined that n images are arranged (S315: Yes), n images are arranged. The printing process of the printed data is performed (S320), and the one slide data printing process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that n images are not arranged (S315: No), the one slide data printing process is terminated.

  One slide data printing process will be described with reference to FIG. First, one slide data printing process of the first slide data is started. The first slide data does not need to be expanded, and proceeds to the process of S315. In the process of S315, only the image “1” is arranged. Therefore, the process ends without printing. Next, one slide data printing process of the second slide data is started (S140: Yes). The second slide data needs to be expanded. First, the image data “2-1” is generated (S335), the generated image data “2-1” is arranged (S337), and S340. The process proceeds to In the process of S340, since a total of two images “1” and “2-1” are arranged, it is determined that n images are not arranged (S340: No), and printing is not performed. The process proceeds to S350. Here, only the image data “2-1” is generated, and the processing of all the pre-transition images has not been completed (S350: No). Therefore, the process returns to the process of S335, and the image data “2-2” that is the next pre-transition image to be displayed next is generated (S335), and the process proceeds to the process of S340. In the process of S340, since a total of three images “1”, “2-1”, and “2-2” are arranged, the process proceeds to S350 without being printed. Here, among the pre-transition images of the second slide data, all the image data “2-1” and “2-2” determined by the pre-transition image determination processing are generated (S350: Yes). Therefore, the process proceeds to S313, and an image “2-3” indicating the last display state is arranged (S313). Here, a total of four images “1”, “2-1”, “2-2”, and 2-1 ”are arranged in the print data. Therefore, it is determined that n images have been arranged (S315: Yes), the print data on which a total of four images have been arranged is printed (S320), and the process ends. Similarly, the slide data printing process is performed for the third to fifth slide data. Then, in the one slide data printing process of the fifth slide data, it is determined that the expansion process is not necessary (S310: No), and the process proceeds to S315, where “3-1”, “3-3”, “ The print data in which the images “4” and “5” are arranged is printed (S315: Yes, S320), and the process is terminated.

  In addition, if the processing for one page is completed in one slide data printing process, the printing process for the page is performed as needed (S320, S345). As a result, print data in which n images are arranged can be output at any time, and it is not necessary to store all print pages, and the storage capacity to be used can be reduced. Further, the image data of the pre-transition image is generated and stored as needed by the process of S335. As a result, when generating the image data of the next pre-transition image, it is possible to perform the transition using the saved snapshot, and it is necessary to start the transition from the initial display state. Can be generated. Further, the pre-transition image and the slide image are arranged in the order in which the slide data is displayed, and the print data is generated, so that the visibility of the print result can be improved.

(Second embodiment)
The present embodiment is a process of determining the pre-transition image on the condition that the developed transition slide data does not cross the page in the pre-transition image determination process of FIG. 4, and other aspects are the same as the first embodiment. It is the same. Therefore, only the pre-transition image determination process in the present embodiment will be described.

  The pre-transition image determination process in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing pre-transition image determination processing in the second embodiment. In the pre-transition image determination process in the present embodiment, pre-transition images are determined in order from the transition slide data to be displayed in the order of the early transition slide data.

  When the pre-transition image determination process is started, first, the number of blank areas is acquired (S410). The process in S410 is the same as the process in S210 in FIG. When the number of blank areas is acquired, it is determined whether the number of blank areas is 0 (S415). If the number of blank areas is 0 (S415: Yes), the pre-transition image determination process is terminated. If the number of blank areas is not 0 (S415: No), it is determined whether there is transition slide data to be processed (S420). When it is determined that there is no transition slide data to be processed (S420: No), that is, when there is no transition slide data, the pre-transition image determination process is terminated. When the process proceeds to the process of S420 for the first time after the process of S415, it is determined that there is transition slide data in the process of S125 of FIG. 4, and therefore it is determined that there is transition slide data to be processed (S420: Yes). If it is determined that there is transition slide data to be processed, the number of pre-transition images of the transition slide data to be processed is acquired (S425). When the number of pre-transition images is acquired, an image arrangement area indicating the initial display state of the transition slide data to be processed is acquired (S430). The arrangement area of the image indicating the initial display state of the transition slide data to be processed is determined by the arrangement area of the slide image of the slide data displayed immediately before the transition slide data to be processed. That is, an area in which an image is arranged next to an arrangement area in which a slide image of slide data that is displayed immediately before the transition slide data to be processed is arranged is acquired. When the arrangement area of the first image is acquired, the number of remaining arrangement areas in the page where the image can be arranged is acquired (S435). That is, the number of arrangement areas in the same page in which images are arranged in order from the next of the arrangement areas acquired by the processing of S430 is acquired. When the number of remaining placement areas is acquired, it is determined whether the number of remaining placement areas is 0 (S440). When the number of remaining arrangement areas is 0 (S440: Yes), if the transition slide data to be processed is expanded and printed, the page will be crossed, so the pre-transition image is not determined, and the process proceeds to S420. Return. Then, when there is transition slide data with an earlier order to be projected, it is determined that there is transition slide data to be processed in the process of S420 (S420: Yes), and the transition of transition slide data with an earlier order to be projected is performed. The previous image determination process proceeds. Next, when there is no transition slide data with a high priority displayed, that is, when the pre-transition image determination processing for all the transition slide data is completed, the pre-transition image determination processing is terminated. In the process of S420, it is determined that there is no transition slide data to be processed (S420: No), and the pre-transition image determination process ends.

  On the other hand, in the process of S440, when it is determined that the number of remaining arrangement areas is not 0 (S440: No), it is determined whether the number of blank areas is equal to or greater than the number of remaining arrangement areas (S445). When the number of blank areas is equal to or greater than the number of remaining arrangement areas (S445: Yes), pre-transition images equal to or less than the number of remaining arrangement areas are determined (S450). If the number of blank areas is not greater than or equal to the number of remaining arrangement areas (S445: No), pre-transition images equal to or less than the number of blank areas are determined (S455). When the process of S450 or S455 ends, the process proceeds to S460, and the number of blank areas is updated (S460). That is, the number obtained by subtracting the number of pre-transition images determined by the processing of S450 or S455 from the number of blank areas is calculated. When the number of blank areas is updated, the process returns to S415 to determine whether the number of updated blank areas is 0 (S415). If the number of updated blank areas is not 0 (S415: No) and there is transition slide data with the next highest priority to be projected next (S420: Yes), the pre-transition image of the transition slide data is determined. (S450 or S455). Then, the processes of S425 to S460 are repeated until it is determined that the updated blank area is 0 (S415: Yes) or until it is determined that there is no transition slide data to be processed (S420: No).

  In the pre-transition image determination processing in the second embodiment, the pre-transition image is determined on the condition that the developed transition slide data does not cross the page. Thus, when the transition slide data is expanded and printed, the pre-transition image and the image indicated by the last display state are printed on the same recording sheet. Therefore, the visibility of the print result can be improved.

  The pre-transition image determination process will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the pre-transition image determination process in the second embodiment.

  The pre-transition image determination process will be described by taking as an example a case where four pieces of projection data consisting of five slide data are arranged and printed on a single recording sheet. Of the five slide data, the second and third slide data are slide data having animation, and there are two pre-transition images. FIG. 9A shows the display states of the five slide data. FIG. 9B shows a print result of the print data generated when the five slide data shown in FIG. 9A are arranged on the recording sheet and printed at a setting of four. .

  First, the pre-transition image determination process for the second slide data, which is the transition slide data having the earliest display order, is performed. When the pre-transition image determination process is started, the number of blank areas is acquired (S410). Specifically, since P = 2, n = 4, and N = 5, the number of blank areas is three (Pn−N = 2 × 4−5). Since the number of blank areas is not 0 (S415: No) and there is transition slide data to be processed (S420: Yes), the process proceeds to S425. In the process of S425, the number of pre-transition images (2) of the second slide data is acquired. In step S430, an arrangement area in which an image indicating the display state “2-1” is arranged is acquired. That is, the arrangement area of the image indicated by the display state “2-1” illustrated in FIG. 9B is acquired. Then, the number of the remaining arrangement areas in the page is acquired (in the case of FIG. 9B, the image arrangement areas indicated by the display states “2-2” and “2-3” are two), and S445. It progresses to processing of. In the process of S445, since the number of blank areas (3) ≧ the number of remaining arrangement areas (2) (S445: Yes), the number of remaining arrangement areas or less (two or less) is the pre-transition image. Is determined (S450). In the case of FIG. 9B, a total of two pre-transition images “2-1” and “2-2” are determined. When the pre-transition image is determined, the number of blank areas is updated. In the case of FIG. 9B, the number of blank areas is updated to 1. Then, the process returns to S415, and it is determined that the number of updated blank areas is not 0 (S415: No), and the process proceeds to S420. In the example of FIG. 9, since there is the third slide data that is the transition slide data in the order to be displayed next, it is determined that there is transition slide data to be processed (S420: Yes). Accordingly, the process proceeds to the pre-transition image determination process of the third slide data, and the pre-transition image of the third slide data is determined. In the case of FIG. 9B, the number of updated blank areas is 1 (S460), and the number of remaining arrangement areas in the page is 3 (S435). Therefore, in the process of S445, since it is determined that the number of blank areas (1) ≧ the number of remaining arrangement areas (3) is not satisfied (S445: No), it is equal to or less than the number of blank areas (1 or less). The pre-transition image is determined (S455), and the pre-transition image indicating the display state “3-1” is determined.

  When the pre-transition image of the third slide data is determined, the process returns to S415. When the number of updated blank areas is determined to be 0 (S415: Yes), the pre-transition image determination process is terminated. . Even if it is determined that the number of updated blank areas is not 0 (S415: No), the transition slide data to be processed does not exist (S420: No), and thus the pre-transition image determination process ends. To do.

(Third embodiment)
The present embodiment is a process of determining the pre-transition image on the condition that the developed transition slide data does not cross the rows in the pre-transition image determination process of FIG. 4, and other aspects are the first embodiment. It is the same. Therefore, only the pre-transition image determination process in the present embodiment will be described.

  The pre-transition image determination process in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing pre-transition image determination processing in the third embodiment. Note that the pre-transition image determination process in the present embodiment has many processes that coincide with the pre-transition image determination process in the second embodiment, and therefore only different processes will be described.

  The pre-transition image determination process in the present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in the number of remaining arrangement areas acquired by the process of S535. In the pre-transition image determination process according to the present embodiment, the number of remaining arrangement areas in which images can be arranged in the same row as the arrangement area of the first image of the transition slide data to be processed is acquired in the process of S535. (S535). That is, the number of arrangement areas in the same row in which images are arranged in order is acquired from the arrangement area acquired by the processing of S530. If it is determined that the number of blank areas ≧ the number of remaining arrangement areas compared with the number of blank areas (S545: Yes), the pre-transition image is determined by the number of remaining arrangement areas or less. In S550), when it is determined that the number of blank areas ≧ the number of remaining arrangement areas is not satisfied (S545: No), the pre-transition images are determined by the number of blank areas or less (S555). Thus, when the transition slide data is expanded and printed, the pre-transition image and the last display state are printed side by side on the same line on the recording sheet. Therefore, the visibility of the print result can be improved.

  The pre-transition image determination process will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the pre-transition image determination process in the third embodiment.

  The pre-transition image determination process will be described by taking as an example a case where four pieces of projection data consisting of five slide data are arranged and printed on a single recording sheet. Of the five slide data, the second and third slide data are slide data having animation, and there are two pre-transition images. 11 (a) shows the display states of the five slide data. FIG. 11B shows a print result of the print data generated when the five slide data shown in FIG. 11A are arranged on the recording sheet and printed at a setting of four. .

  First, determination processing of the pre-transition image of the second slide data is performed. The arrangement area of the first image of the second slide data is the arrangement area of the image indicated by the display state “2-3” shown in FIG. Therefore, in the process of S535, the number of remaining placement areas in the same row as the placement area “2-3” where the image can be placed is 0 (S540: Yes). Accordingly, the pre-transition image of the second slide data is not determined, and the process returns to S520. In the process of S520, since there is the third slide data that is the next transition slide data to be projected next, it is determined that there is transition slide data to be processed (S520: Yes), and the third slide data The pre-transition image determination process proceeds. Then, the process proceeds to the process of S535, and in the process of S535, the number (1) of the remaining arrangement areas in the same row as the arrangement area of the first image is acquired (S535). Since the number of blank areas (3) ≧ the number of remaining arrangement areas (1) (S545: Yes), pre-transition images equal to or less than the number of remaining arrangement areas are determined (S550). In the example of FIG. 11B, the pre-transition image indicating the display state “3-1” is determined (S550). Then, the number of blank areas is updated to 2 (S560). Then, the process returns to S520, and there is no transition slide data to be processed (S520: No), and thus the pre-transition image determination process is terminated.

  In addition, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various aspect can be taken in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is described as an example of an image forming apparatus provided with a printing mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and image processing according to the embodiment is performed to generate print data. It is good also as a terminal device like. In addition, a printer driver that performs image processing in the embodiment and generates print data may be used.

  Further, as the development printing process of the image forming apparatus 1, the printing process of the projection data stored in the USB memory mounted via the USB I / F 19 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an arbitrary personal computer (not shown) A printing process based on a print instruction sent from a personal computer connected to the network may be used.

  In one slide data printing process, the snapshot is stored only for the pre-transition image of the transition slide data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a snapshot of the slide image may be stored. Further, when generating the image data of the pre-transition image, the snapshot may not be saved, and the transition may be started from the initial display state of the transition slide data to generate the image data.

  In the first embodiment, the number of the pre-transition images is determined by the number of blank areas. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the third embodiment, the pre-transition image determination means determines the pre-transition image on the condition that it does not cross the rows. An image may be determined. Thereby, in the setting for arranging and printing a plurality of images on one recording sheet, the visibility of the printing result can be improved when the arrangement advances in the column direction (vertical direction).

1 Image forming apparatus 11 CPU (blank area number calculating means, transition slide data detecting means, pre-transition image determining means, print data generating means, slide data calculating means)

Claims (6)

An image processing apparatus for generating print data for arranging and printing a plurality of slide images represented by slide data included in projection data on one recording sheet,
Blank area number calculating means for calculating the number of blank areas in which no image is arranged at an image arrangement position on the recording sheet; transition slide data detecting means for detecting transition slide data whose display state transitions from the projection data;
A pre-transition image determination means for determining a pre-transition image of the transition slide data detected by the transition slide data detection means by a number equal to or less than the number of blank areas calculated by the blank area number calculation means;
Print data generating means for generating print data by arranging the pre-transition image determined by the pre-transition image determining means and the slide image;
An image processing apparatus comprising: A slide data calculating means for calculating the total number (N) of the slide data;
The number of blank areas calculated by the blank area number calculating means is the maximum number of images that can be arranged on P recording sheets (P × n: P is N / n · N / n when N / n is an integer). The total number of the slide data calculated by the slide data calculation means from the smallest integer exceeding N / n when not an integer, where n is the number of images arranged on one recording sheet and is an integer of 2 or more) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number is Pn−N.   The print data generation unit generates print data arranged in the order in which the pre-transition image determined by the pre-transition image determination unit and the slide image are displayed. An image processing apparatus according to 1.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pre-transition image determining unit determines the pre-transition image in the order in which the transition slide data is displayed.   The pre-transition image determination means is configured to pre-transition on condition that the pre-transition image of the transition slide data and the slide image represented by the transition slide data including the pre-transition image are arranged on the same recording sheet. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an image is determined.   The pre-transition image determination means is configured to print n pre-transition images of the transition slide data and the transition when the N pieces of slide data are arranged and arranged in rows and columns on a single recording sheet. 6. The pre-transition image is determined on the condition that the slide image represented by the transition slide data including the previous image is arranged in one direction in the order of transition. An image processing apparatus according to 1.